Alcaraz crumbled in opposition to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp whereas Osaka misplaced to Czech Karolina Muchova.
Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of this yr’s first two Grand Slams, and Naomi Osaka have each been knocked out of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Alcaraz crumbled to a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 defeat in opposition to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday, whereas Osaka slipped to a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Czech Karolina Muchova, the world No 52.
Unseeded van de Zandschulp, at the moment ranked world No 74, was an enormous underdog in opposition to a participant who had gained 15 straight Grand Slam matches and followers at Arthur Ashe Stadium might scarcely imagine their eyes as Alcaraz dished out error after error within the shock loss.
“In the present day I used to be enjoying in opposition to the opponent, and I used to be enjoying in opposition to myself, you already know, in my thoughts,” Alcaraz stated. “I imply, numerous feelings that I couldn’t management.”
Alcaraz was bidding to change into the third man in historical past after Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the identical calendar yr.
“I used to be up in some factors. Then I lose some factors. I get down. It was a rollercoaster, let’s say, in my thoughts,” added the world quantity three.
Alcaraz admitted that van de Zandschulp, 28, shocked him together with his degree of play.
“He didn’t make numerous errors that I assumed he was going to do,” Alcaraz stated. “So I used to be, you already know, complicated just a little bit. I didn’t know learn how to handle that, learn how to cope with it.
The 21-year-old stated it’s not the primary time he’s felt unable to take management of a match.
“I’m considering proper now that I’m not altering, and that’s the issue,” Alcaraz stated. “So I’ve to consider it, I’ve to study it.”
Gracias, Carlitos 🫶🏼 Nos vemos en la siguiente pic.twitter.com/YWdwo26OIO
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
Translation: Thanks Carlitos, we are going to see you subsequent time.
Alcaraz, who gained silver on the Paris Olympics after dropping to Novak Djokovic, stated he wanted an extended break earlier than going to Flushing Meadows.
Van de Zandschulp was considering retirement lower than three months in the past after a number of accidents.
“I’m nonetheless processing it,” he stated of his win. “Possibly in a few hours or tomorrow, I’ll really feel just a little bit extra emotional with what occurred tonight.”
Osaka’s stalled comeback
For Osaka, her comeback from maternity go away stays stalled.
She missed final yr’s match after giving start to daughter Shai however made up for that absence within the first spherical when she brushed apart Jelena Ostapenko for a primary top-10 win in 4 years.
Nonetheless, on Thursday the 26-year-old went all the way down to a straight units loss to Muchova, leaving her with out a third-round look on the majors because the 2022 Australian Open.
“It’s been just a little troublesome as a result of clearly I can solely gauge how I’m doing by outcomes. I really feel quicker. I really feel higher, however I misplaced within the second spherical. So it’s just a little tough,” stated Osaka.
Muchova will meet Russia’s Anastasia Potapova for a last-16 spot.
“Actually this yr the largest win for me is that I might play once more,” stated Muchova, who picked up a wrist damage finally yr’s US Open which sidelined her for 9 months.