Carlos Alcaraz hoped to win the 2024 US Open for the second time in his younger profession (after profitable in 2022) and turn out to be the youngest participant ever to win 5 Grand Slam titles. The younger Spanish champion was defeated within the second spherical by a really impressed Botic van de Zandschulp, who has completely exploited one of many worst variations of Carlitos lately.
The previous world no 1 has made many unforced errors and let himself be overwhelmed by frustration as an alternative of discovering another plan to show the match round. The four-time Grand Slam champion has suffered from summer season fatigue, wherein he performed many matches reaching distinctive outcomes.
In 2024 the Spaniard gained the French Open, the Wimbledon Championships, the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells and the silver medal on the Olympics in Paris, the place he suffered a painful defeat towards Novak Djokovic within the remaining. The 21-year-old from Murcia had already proven indicators of fatigue through the Cincinnati Masters 1000 – wherein he misplaced to Gael Monfils – however nobody anticipated such a untimely elimination in New York. The present quantity 3 on the planet – who final yr reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows – should in all probability hand over any likelihood of ending the yr on the prime of the ATP rating.
Alcaraz will assist Spain
Alcaraz should rapidly overlook the frustration on the US Open and keep away from instantly the identical decline as final yr, when he didn’t win a title after the superb triumph on the Wimbledon Championships. The younger Spaniard will assist his nation within the Davis Cup from tenth to fifteenth September in Valencia. Together with him, there shall be Pedro Martinez, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers and Pablo Carreno Busta. Along with Spain, there may even be Australia, France and the Czech Republic. The primary two groups of the group will compete within the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November.
Just lately, Paula Badosa defended Carlitos after his surprising loss on the US Open: “I do know it’s going to at all times be like this, but it surely by no means ceases to amaze me to learn destructive feedback a couple of man who has gained two Grand Slams, has been no 1, gained a silver medal within the Olympics, and can win far more. Everyone seems to be human; it is a part of our job. We ought to be cheering him on daily basis.”
One of many gamers who benefited most from Alcaraz’s elimination is certainly Jack Draper, who certified for the spherical of 16 by simply beating van de Zandschulp within the third spherical. In the course of the press convention, the British participant commented on the Spanish ace’s defeat: “He’s achieved a lot this yr, profitable the French and Wimbledon. I’m not stunned that they’re in all probability feeling actually drained and emotionally a bit drained. Even Popyrin final night time, he gained Montreal. I watched the opening two units earlier than I went to mattress. I didn’t truthfully really feel like Djokovic was enjoying extremely badly. Possibly his serve was a bit under par, however I felt like Popyrin performed an unbelievable match as properly. There’s a whole lot of gamers on the tour in the meanwhile who’re actually harmful and on their day can play a tremendous match towards one of the best gamers on the planet.”
Carlitos seemed drained
World No.1 Jannik Sinner additionally mirrored on Alcaraz and Djokovic’s losses: “As we see, something can occur on this sport. I attempt to keep on my aspect of the online. Taking it daily. Every opponent is a tricky problem. Attempting to take pleasure in each second on the court docket. There have been a few upsets. Let’s see what’s coming. I’m pleased to nonetheless be right here and hopefully play as many matches as attainable.”
The Spanish ace nonetheless has too many drops of focus throughout matches and should enhance rapidly on this respect. The previous world no 1 had additionally taken an enormous danger within the first rounds on the Wimbledon Championships, the place he was put in issue by Frances Tiafoe and Ugo Humbert.
“I used to be combating myself, in my thoughts, through the match. In tennis, you battle towards somebody who needs the identical factor as you, victory, and that you must keep calm and assume issues by higher to hold them out” – the 4-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged after his match towards van de Zandschulp. “I used to be enjoying towards him and towards myself, in my thoughts. Too many feelings that I could not management. It was like a rollercoaster. Typically I used to be up, generally down. I can not be like that if I need to win a match like this” – he concluded.
