New York: Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the US Open by Dutch world number 74 Botic van de Zandschulp in a second round mega upset on Thursday. Alcaraz lost 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, finishing his bid to become only the third player in the recent history to win the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
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“It was an unbelievable evening out here in my first time in the night session on Arthur Ashe. I tried to stay cool,” said Van de Zandschulp after only his second career victory over a top five player.
The Spanish star, who had needed 4 sets to see off Australian qualifier Li Tu in the 1st round, appeared on court with his left thigh seriously strapped. That proved the least of his issues as the tennis star dropped serve twice in the opening set, failing to hit a single winner against his opponent, who made the quarter-finals on his debut in 2021.
Van de Zandschulp becomes the first Dutchman to defeat a top three player at a Grand Slam since Richard Krajicek beat Pete Sampras in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 1996. He is the first from his nation to achieve it at the US Open since his coach Paul Haarhuis knocked out Boris Becker in the 3rd round in 1991.
