NEW YORK— The Grand Slam winning streak of former champion Carlos Alcaraz ended suddenly at the US Open on Thursday as the Spanish third seed was defeated by unseeded Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp with scores of 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.

Alcaraz struggled from the get-go, making unforced errors as Van de Zandschulp dominated the match in front of a shocked crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ending the 15-match winning streak for the French Open and Wimbledon champion.

This loss marked Alcaraz’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon 2021.

“I’m at a loss for words right now. He played excellently,” Alcaraz stated.

“He made fewer mistakes than I anticipated, which threw me off a bit.

“I was unsure how to handle that.”

The 21-year-old Alcaraz fell behind quickly as Van de Zandschulp secured the first three games with solid defending, later breaking again in the sixth game to clinch the first set.

Alcaraz showcased a remarkable forehand pass to hold serve in the opening game of the second set, but his challenges in finishing points emerged once more as Van de Zandschulp broke to take a 2-1 lead.

A strategic adjustment to return serve from further back helped Alcaraz break back immediately, but a double fault gifted Van de Zandschulp another break, allowing him to comfortably extend his lead in the match.

After taking a brief break off the court before the third set, Alcaraz found himself in more difficulty when an errant forehand resulted in another break for Van de Zandschulp.

Though he quickly responded to regain his composure, Van de Zandschulp continued to press ahead and ultimately secured a stunning victory while serving.

“I didn’t feel right when hitting the ball,” Alcaraz admitted. “I think I made too many mistakes, and when I tried to mount a comeback  it was too late.”

Van de Zandschulp, a former quarterfinalist in New York who has battled left foot injuries in recent years, was left speechless after achieving the biggest win of his career.

“This has been an incredible night. It’s my first time experiencing a night session at Arthur Ashe. The crowd was phenomenal. Thank you for this unbelievable evening,” said Van de Zandschulp.

“From the first point, I believed I had a chance. I felt some nerves, but to beat someone like him, you need to remain incredibly composed and keep your focus.”

Next, Van de Zandschulp will compete against Britain’s Jack Draper.