Alcaraz Shocked by US Open Loss: ‘His Game Confused Me Completely’

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open campaign came to an unexpected end in the second round, after a shocking 3-0 defeat to Dutch opponent Botic van de Zandschulp. Following the match, a visibly disappointed Alcaraz attributed his loss to his opponent’s exceptional performance and his own inability to adapt. He explained that van de Zandschulp’s consistent play, devoid of errors, threw him off balance. ‘I thought I would get some easy points, but he didn’t make any mistakes, and that caused me complete confusion,’ said Alcaraz. ‘I couldn’t find my rhythm, make adjustments, or elevate my game.’ Despite the loss, Alcaraz acknowledged his opponent’s strength, admitting that his own level remained stagnant throughout the match, which ultimately proved insufficient. ‘My level remained the same throughout the entire match, and that wasn’t enough to be competitive. I couldn’t feel the ball, I was making mistakes, and when I wanted to make a comeback, it was already too late.’