Major Upsets and Retirements at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz's impressive 15-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments came to an abrupt end with a straight-sets defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round of the US Open. Alcaraz, who had recently clinched titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, struggled mentally and physically, committing 28 errors and failing to control his emotions during the match. Van de Zandschulp, ranked 74th in the world, achieved his first victory over a top-10 player at a major tournament. Alcaraz acknowledged his internal struggle, saying he was 'playing against himself' and couldn't maintain composure. This marks Alcaraz's earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2021, while top seeds like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek moved on to the third round with ease. The tournament also saw emotional exits from players like Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman, who played their last matches at the US Open.