Botic Van De Zandschulp Achieves Stunning Upset Over Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open

Botic Van De Zandschulp Shocks Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, the current World No. 3, suffered a shocking defeat in the second round of the US Open on Thursday. The star fell to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets, with scores of 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Van de Zandschulp, currently ranked 74th, delivered a stellar performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York. Alcaraz, who recently won a silver medal at the Olympics and the Wimbledon trophy, had a tough start and couldn't recover, ending the match with 28 errors.

Significance of the Match

The Dutchman closed the match with an ace, marking one of the biggest upsets in recent memory and achieving his first victory over a top-10 opponent at a major tournament. After the match, the crowd erupted in applause while Alcaraz acknowledged van de Zandschulp with grace. "It's been an incredible evening here," said van de Zandschulp during the ESPN broadcast. "The crowd was amazing!" He admitted to feeling nervous while closing out the match but managed to maintain composure against his formidable opponent.

What This Means for Alcaraz

This defeat ends Alcaraz’s impressive 15-match unbeaten streak at the US Open, making it his earliest exit in a major tournament since Wimbledon in 2021. Meanwhile, van de Zandschulp, who has only advanced past the fourth round in a Grand Slam once, is set to face British 25th seed Jack Draper in the third round on Saturday.