Alcaraz crumbled in opposition to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp whereas Osaka misplaced to Czech Karolina Muchova.
Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of this 12 months’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 present ranked world No 74, was an enormous underdog in opposition to a participant who had won 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.
“At this time I used to be taking part in in opposition to the opponent, and I used to be taking part in in opposition to myself, you recognize, in my thoughts,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I imply, a variety of feelings that I couldn’t management.”
Alcaraz was bidding to grow to be 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 12 months.
“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, stunned him together with his stage of play.
“He didn’t make a variety of errors that I believed he was going to do,” Alcaraz mentioned. “So I used to be, you recognize, complicated a little bit bit. I didn’t know handle that, take care of it.
The 21-year-old mentioned 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 mentioned. “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 received silver on the Paris Olympics after dropping to Novak Djokovic, mentioned 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 mentioned of his win. “Perhaps in a few hours or tomorrow, I’ll really feel a little bit bit extra emotional with what occurred tonight.”
Osaka’s stalled comeback
For Osaka, her comeback from maternity depart stays stalled.
She missed final 12 months’s event after giving delivery 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 no third-round look on the majors because the 2022 Australian Open.
“It’s been a little bit tough as a result of clearly I can solely gauge how I’m doing by outcomes. I really feel sooner. I really feel higher, however I misplaced within the second spherical. So it’s a little bit tough,” mentioned Osaka.
Muchova will meet Russia’s Anastasia Potapova for a last-16 spot.
“Actually this 12 months the largest win for me is that I might play once more,” mentioned Muchova, who picked up a wrist damage finally 12 months’s US Open which sidelined her for 9 months.
