Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz faced a shocking early exit from the US Open after being defeated by Dutch world number 74, Botic van de Zandschulp, in the second round on Thursday. Alcaraz, the world number three and 2022 US Open champion, lost in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.

This defeat ended Alcaraz's quest to become only the third man in the modern era to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same season. The loss also marked his earliest exit at a Grand Slam since his second-round departure at Wimbledon in 2021. Alcaraz had reached at least the quarter-finals in his previous three US Open appearances.