New York – Expectations were high for Carlos Alcaraz as he entered the U.S. Open. The 21-year-old talented player, who boasts four Grand Slam titles, including a victory at Flushing Meadows as a teenager, arrived at the tournament as a favorite.
On his path to the second round, Alcaraz had achieved an impressive 15-match winning streak in Grand Slam events, highlighted by triumphs at the French Open and Wimbledon, along with a silver medal from the Olympics in Paris. However, his performance on Thursday night fell short when he was defeated by the 74th-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands with scores of 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. The outcome was not only surprising but also demonstrated a decisive victory for van de Zandschulp.
Following the match, Alcaraz appeared concerned, stating, “Instead of taking steps forward, I’ve taken steps back mentally. I can’t understand why this is happening.” He opened up about his mental state during the Spanish portion of the press conference, expressing feelings of unease and an inability to handle challenging moments on the court.
Van de Zandschulp, a 28-year-old player, had previously considered retiring from professional tennis. With a season record of 11-18 before the U.S. Open and only one quarter-final appearance at a Grand Slam event, he seemed to have little to lose. However, he felt that the match could turn at any moment: “Even in the third set, I thought he would come up with something special,” van de Zandschulp remarked.
Unfortunately for Alcaraz, he struggled to find his rhythm. “Today I played against my opponent, but also against myself, in my mind,” he explained. “Many emotions that I couldn’t control.”
When a journalist mentioned fatigue as a potential factor, Alcaraz acknowledged that his cramped match schedule might have drained him. The transition from clay to grass, then back to clay, and finally to hard courts in North America proved to be challenging. “Maybe I came here with less energy than I thought,” he admitted, but emphasized that he would not use this as an excuse.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz must find a way to overcome this defeat, especially after a heart-wrenching loss to Novak Djokovic in the Olympics, which had clearly affected him. With three losses in his last four matches, it is essential for him to regain his form for the upcoming Australian Open in January.
Despite these recent challenges, Alcaraz should remember that only two men in the past 55 years have managed to win titles in Paris, London, and New York within a single season: Rod Laver in 1969 and Rafael Nadal in 2010. “I need to think about that,” Alcaraz said. “I must learn from this if I want to improve.”
**Tags: #CarlosAlcaraz #USOpen #Tennis #BoticvandeZandschulp #SportsNews #GrandSlam**