Former champion Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam winning streak came to a screeching halt at the U.S. Open on Thursday (August 29) as the Spanish third seed was thumped 6-1 7-5 6-4 by unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
An off-color Alcaraz never recovered from a shaky start and made unforced errors throughout at a stunned Arthur Ashe Stadium as the inspired Van de Zandschulp snapped the French Open and Wimbledon champion’s 15-match winning run at the majors.
It was the Paris Olympics silver medallist’s earliest exit at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021.
Alcaraz produced a stunning forehand pass to hold serve in the first game of the next set but the four-times major winner’s struggles to close out points resurfaced as Van de Zandschulp broke for a 2-1 lead.
Former New York quarter-finalist Van de Zandschulp, hampered by injuries to his left foot in the last two years, was lost for words after the biggest victory of his career.
Van de Zandschulp will next face Britain’s Jack Draper.
