The young Spaniard, seeded third in the draw and ranked third in the world, as well as a semifinalist in last year’s edition, struggled on Thursday in New York against Botic van de Zandschulp (6-1, 7-5, 6-4). The accumulation of matches over the past three months, coupled with a lack of rest, took its toll on him.
Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit: a surprising defeat at the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, made an unexpected early exit from the US Open.
This defeat marks Alcaraz’s worst Grand Slam result since Wimbledon 2021. His opponent had never beaten a top 10 player before this match.
Fatigue and injuries
Alcaraz arrived at the final Grand Slam of the year physically and mentally drained. With his left thigh taped due to an adductor issue and after suffering a twisted ankle on Saturday, luck was clearly not on his side.
After facing a relatively easy opponent in the first round, Australian Li Tu—who still managed to take a set off him—Alcaraz needed to raise his game several levels against van de Zandschulp but was unable to do so. The usually formidable shot-maker ended the first set without a single winner and only managed to win one game.
His Dutch opponent’s shots were three times faster, and Carlitos, accustomed to playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, especially in night sessions, kept glancing at his team, signaling clearly, “I can’t see.”
Van de Zandschulp seemed to be speeding toward victory with his third break in the third game of the second set. The crowd tried to rally behind their favorite player, who had become the youngest world number one in history after his 2022 US Open win.
Unexpected defeat
Carlos Alcaraz took 19 minutes to get on the scoreboard and didn’t have a break point opportunity until the second set. The four-time Grand Slam champion was giving it his all. Two consecutive games brought him back into the lead at 3-2.
“I’m not in the right headspace,” he informed his team. At just 21 years old, Alcaraz had only four days of rest after his title win at Roland Garros, three more after his Wimbledon victory, and another five days after winning an Olympic silver medal before starting the American hardcourt season at the Cincinnati Masters.
As they entered the third set, Ferrero urged him on: “We never stop fighting, come on. Let’s go, push yourself.” But none of the messages seemed to reach a visibly exhausted Carlitos.
“There’s still a lot of tennis left, but you have to convince yourself,” his coach told him. Without inspiration, there is no glory. His 15-match Grand Slam winning streak came to an end, along with his dream of capturing titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open in a single year.
Van de Zandschulp, who has only advanced beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam once before, will face Britain’s Jack Draper, the 25th seed, in the third round on Saturday.
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