Grapevine

By Al Jazeera
Aug 30, 2024

Stars Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka crash out of US Open in shock defeats

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of this year’s first two Grand Slams, and Naomi Osaka have both been knocked out of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz crumbled to a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 defeat against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday, while Osaka slipped to a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Czech Karolina Muchova, the world No 52.

“Today I was playing against the opponent, and I was playing against myself, you know, in my mind,” Alcaraz said. “I mean, a lot of emotions that I couldn’t control.”

Alcaraz was bidding to become the third man in history after Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same calendar year.