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In what was the biggest upsets of the ongoing US Open 2024, world number three ranked Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the tennis major, suffering a defeat at the hands of Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands. Botic, who is ranked No. 74, stunned the Spaniard at the Centre Court early on Friday, August 30 to bring an end to his men’s singles campaign in New York.
Alcaraz, who entered the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year after wins at the French Open and the Wimbledon, lost 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match which went on for two hours and 21 minutes. The Dutch star came out firing all cylinders and pulled off a massive win, bringing Alcaraz’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2021. Moreover, Botic became the first Dutchman to defeat a top three player at the US Open since 1991.
Watch the moment when Botic van de Zandschulp end Carlos Alcaraz's campaign at US Open 2024:
The young Spaniard, who looked completely out of sorts in the first set, earned two break serves, but the Dutch’s dominance got him the set. In the second set too, Van de Zandschulp continued his dominance, earning an early break to go 3-2 up. In the entire match, the Dutch was top-notch with his first serves, winning 78 per cent of the points (49 out of 63). Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s 27 unforced errors turned the game the game in favour of the Dutch.
While the four-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic silver medallist will make his way out of the tournament, the Dutch, Botic van de Zandschulp is set to take on USA’s Jack Drapper in the second round.
