Unseeded Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp stunned former US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz with a resounding 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 victory in the second round on Thursday night.
Alcaraz struggled to recover from a shaky start and made numerous unforced errors, which allowed Van de Zandschulp to thwart Alcaraz’s attempt at winning a third consecutive major title. This loss marks Alcaraz’s first exit in the second round of a major tournament since Wimbledon 2021 when he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev.
Van de Zandschulp will face British No. 1 Jack Draper in the third round on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Tennis.
“I am a little bit lost for words. It’s been an incredible evening here,” said Van de Zandschulp. “From the very first point, I believed I had a chance. I had some nerves, but to beat one of these guys, you have to remain incredibly calm.”
The 21-year-old started strong, winning the opening three games with resolute defense, and he broke Alcaraz to take the first set. Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam winner, struggled to finish points and allowed Van de Zandschulp to extend his lead.
After a brief break before the third set, Alcaraz found himself in trouble, giving Van de Zandschulp another break opportunity. While he fought back to regain some momentum, Van de Zandschulp stayed in front and completed the upset.
Match Stats:
- Alcaraz:
- Aces: 2
- Double Faults: 1
- 1st Serve Win Percentage: 61%
- 2nd Serve Win Percentage: 60%
- Break Points Won: 2/5
- Net Points Won: 13/21
- Winners: 21
- Unforced Errors: 27
- Total Points Won: 73
- Van de Zandschulp:
- Aces: 2
- Double Faults: 7
- 1st Serve Win Percentage: 66%
- 2nd Serve Win Percentage: 78%
- Break Points Won: 6/9
- Net Points Won: 28/35
- Winners: 22
- Unforced Errors: 21
- Total Points Won: 92
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to upcoming matches on Sky Sports Tennis, including events such as the Jasmin Open and the Japan Open throughout September.
Credit: Sky Sports
