Carlos Alcaraz Loses to Botic van de Zandschulp in U.S. Open, Ending 15-Match Grand Slam Win Streak

1. Introduction

In a stunning upset, 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz's 15-match Grand Slam winning streak came to an end at the 2023 U.S. Open, as he lost to 26-year-old Botic van de Zandschulp in the fourth round.

2. The Match: A David vs. Goliath Story

Alcaraz, the tournament's top seed and world number one, entered the match as the heavy favorite. However, van de Zandschulp, ranked 35th in the world, played the match of his life, stunning the crowd with his aggressive play and consistent serve.

The match went the distance, with Alcaraz ultimately losing in five sets: 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-7(6), 6-3. It was Alcaraz's first loss in a Grand Slam since the 2021 French Open.

3. Van de Zandschulp's Historic Victory

Van de Zandschulp's victory marked the first time a Dutch player had reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals since Richard Krajicek in 1996.

It was also the second time that van de Zandschulp had defeated a top-five player this year, having previously upset Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Wimbledon Championships.

4. Alcaraz's Disappointment and Looking Forward

Alcaraz was visibly disappointed after the match, but he vowed to learn from the experience and come back stronger.

Despite the loss, Alcaraz remains the world number one and is still considered one of the most promising young players in the game.