Carlos Alcaraz upset in second round at US Open by Botic Van De Zandschulp in straight sets
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One of the frontrunners in men’s singles to win the 2024 U.S. Open has been knocked out in the second round.
Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, was shockingly upset in the second round by the Netherlands’ Botic Van De Zandschulp in straight sets.
Van De Zandschulp, the 28-year-old from Wageningen, Netherlands, was only 87-83 in his career and 10-18 this year when he entered his match against Alcaraz after defeating Denis Shapovalov in the first round.
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Carlos Alcaraz of Spain hits to Botic van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands on day four of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
But it was clear from the start of the match that Van De Zandschulp was not at all nervous to be facing Alcaraz, the 21-year-old, four-time Grand Slam champion.
Van De Zandschulp won the first set convincingly, 6-1, where Alcaraz airmailed a serve return over the baseline on triple set point.
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From there, the Spaniard kicked it up a notch, but Van De Zandschulp was still able to win the set via tiebreak, 7-5, to put himself in the driver’s seat to pull off the major upset.
We’ve seen what Alcaraz can do with his back against the wall in the past, but Van De Zandschulp outlasted him yet again in the third set, finishing him off, 6-4, in front of a stunned New York City crowd.
Botic van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands after beating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on day four