Sad News: Carlos Alcaraz Garfia Will Not Play For Spanish Any More Due To His……………………read more.
Unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp, currently ranked No. 74 in the world, faced off against a formidable opponent who had won 15 consecutive Grand Slam matches, leaving fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium stunned as Carlos Alcaraz struggled with uncharacteristic errors in a surprising defeat.
“Today, I was battling both my opponent and myself in my mind,” Alcaraz reflected. “There were so many emotions that I couldn’t control.”
Alcaraz was aiming to join Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal as the only men to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same calendar year.
“I had my chances but then I lost focus. It felt like a mental rollercoaster,” added the world No. 3.
Alcaraz acknowledged that van de Zandschulp, 28, surprised him with his level of play.
“He didn’t make the mistakes I expected, which threw me off. I wasn’t sure how to handle that,” Alcaraz admitted.
The 21-year-old noted that this wasn’t the first time he struggled to take control of a match.
“I realize now that I need to adapt better, and that’s a challenge for me,” he said. “I have to think about it and learn from this experience.”
In response to the match, Alcaraz expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Carlitos, we’ll see you next time.”
After winning silver at the Paris Olympics against Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz mentioned he needed a longer break before returning to Flushing Meadows.
Meanwhile, van de Zandschulp reflected on his journey, considering retirement just a few months ago due to injuries. “I’m still processing this win. Maybe in a few hours or tomorrow, I’ll feel more emotional about what happened tonight,” he said.
Osaka’s Ongoing Comeback
Naomi Osaka’s return from maternity leave continues to face challenges. After missing last year’s tournament due to the birth of her daughter Shai, she marked her return by defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the first round, achieving her first top-10 victory in four years.
However, the 26-year-old suffered a straight-set loss to Karolína Muchová, missing out on a third-round appearance in a major for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.
“It’s been tough because I can only judge my progress by results. I feel faster and better, but losing in the second round is disappointing,” Osaka said.
Muchová is set to face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova for a place in the last 16.
“Honestly, this year’s biggest win for me is just being able to compete again,” Muchová remarked, as she returned from a wrist injury that sidelined her for nine months following last year’s US Open.
Osaka described this period as her “learning year” after taking a 15-month break for maternity leave.
