Carlos Alcaraz Eliminated in Upset Loss at the US Open

World No. 1 Stumbles Against Botic Van de Zandschulp

In a surprising turn of events, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the US Open in the second round after a five-set loss to qualifier Botic Van de Zandschulp.

Despite winning the first two sets, Alcaraz struggled to maintain his momentum against the world No. 74. Van de Zandschulp took the final three sets to claim the upset victory, sending shockwaves through the tennis community.

Key Points:

- Alcaraz entered the match as a heavy favorite after winning four titles this year, including the Madrid Open and Barcelona Open. - Van de Zandschulp, a 26-year-old Dutch player, had never reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament before. - The match lasted over four hours, with Van de Zandschulp winning 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. - Alcaraz's elimination opens up the possibility for Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and other players to contend for the US Open title.

Expert Analysis:

- ESPN tennis analyst Brad Gilbert praised Van de Zandschulp's "relentless" performance, noting his strong serve and ability to force errors from Alcaraz. - Former US Open champion Pat Cash said Alcaraz's loss was a reminder that "anything can happen in tennis." - Tennis commentator Darren Cahill believes Van de Zandschulp's victory could be a springboard for the Dutch player to achieve greater success in the future.