Botic van de Zandschulp had very low chances of winning against Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open second round with odds as high as 50-1.
No one expected the 28-year-old Dutch player to beat the three-time grand slam champion.
Instead he easily beat Alcaraz in three sets with scores of 6-1 7-5 and 6-4. It took him two hours and 21 minutes to advance to the third round at Flushing Meadows.
Van de Zandschulp caused a big surprise at the US Open by winning the first set against the third seed. He had to fight off some challenges in the second and third sets to secure the victory.
Why Carlos Alcaraz was defeated by Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open
Alcaraz did not seem to be injured and was simply defeated by the 74th-ranked Dutch player in a fair competition. The Dutch player has been ranked as high as 22 and made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open 2021. However, it seems like Alcaraz may have gotten tired after winning the last two big tennis tournaments at the French Open and Wimbledon then getting a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Tennis star John McEnroe believed that Alcaraz should have taken a break after playing so much in 2024 considering how well he performed.
“He said that looking back it would have been a better decision for him to not play at all ” he told Eurosport.
“With everything that has happened it will be a tough challenge for him to win this tournament emotionally.”
How does Alcaraz’s defeat affect the men’s US Open draw?
Alcaraz’s defeat makes it easier for the world’s top player. Jannik Sinner is set to make it to the US Open final even though he was supposed to play in the semi-finals first.
In Alcaraz’s part of the competition the 10th seed Alex de Minaur seems to have an advantage as the top-ranked player in that group.
Other players who will compete to win the quarter without Alcaraz are Josh Draper who is seeded 25th and Matteo Arnaldi who is seeded 30th.
Alcaraz who was seeded the highest has been knocked out of the US Open. Seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz and 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas have also been eliminated from the tournament.
Conclusion:
The surprising defeat of Carlos Alcaraz by Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports. While Alcaraz’s loss may have shocked fans and experts alike, it highlights the resilience and determination of underdogs like Van de Zandschulp to rise to the occasion when given the opportunity. As the tournament progresses, the men’s draw will undoubtedly see more twists and turns, making for an exciting competition at Flushing Meadows.
