(August 29, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – In one of the biggest upsets, Botic van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands, No. 74 in the world, stunned No. 3 and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday Night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The wins snapped the Spaniards 15 match win streak at majors this year.
“I think I played, like, emotionally tonight, stable,” van De Zandschulp said in a post-match news conference.“Also, during my play I think I played unbelievably stable.”
Van De Zandschulp will face No. 25 Jack Draper in the third round.
“I don’t know what to say right now,” said a stunned Alcaraz. “I mean, first of all, I think he played great. He played really good tennis. I thought he was going to give me more points. I’m going to say more free points, you know.
“He didn’t make a lot of mistakes that I thought he was going to do. So I was, you know, confusing a little bit. I didn’t know how to manage that, how to deal with it. I couldn’t increase my level.
“I think my level stayed at the same point all the match, and it wasn’t enough to win the match or to give myself the chance to getting into the match or trying to give myself chances.
“So, you know, what can I say? I didn’t feel well hitting the ball. I think I made a lot of mistakes. When I wanted to come back or I think I wanted to come back, it was too late.”
“I think I played, like, emotional tonight, stable. Also, during my play I think I played unbelievably stable.” said the 28-year-old Dutchman.
“Yeah, you’re going to think every time — when I won the first set, for example, you’re going to think, like, he’s coming up with — yeah, he’s one of the best players in the world, and he’s coming up with a different level.
“I actually broke him already quite soon in the second set. Got broken back. Then it went down to 5-All. Yeah, I served it out pretty good.
“Then in the third, even in the third, you’re thinking, like, he’s going to come up with something special. Yeah, I broke him again pretty quick. Got broken again back.
“Yeah, I think until 5-4 in the third I still had something in the back of my mind that he’s going to come up with something special. So, yeah, I actually was thinking that the whole match.”
“It was a fight against myself, you know, in my mind during the match. In tennis you are playing against someone that wants the same as you, to win the match, and you have to be as much calm as you can just to think better in the match and try to do good things,” he continued.
“Today I was playing against the opponent, and I was playing against myself, you know, in my mind. I mean, a lot of emotions that I couldn’t control.
“It was kind of I was up in some points. Then I lose some points; I get down. It was a roller coaster, let’s say, in my mind. So I can’t be like that if I want to think about big things, so I have to improve it. I have to learn about it.”
Van De Zandschulp will face No. 25 Jack Draper in the third round.
More to follow…
