Stunning U.S. Open loss leaves Carlos Alcaraz perplexed

Carlos Alcaraz counts the championships at the French Open and Wimbledon among his titles in 2024, but he has a lot of questions after his Grand Slam season ended with a thud.

Alcaraz, the No. 3 seed, was run over late Thursday at the U.S. Open by Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, who defeated the Spaniard in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Alcaraz recorded 21 winners compared to 27 unforced errors and won just 44 percent of the total points.

After the two-hour, 19-minute match, Alcaraz told the media that he isn't feeling like himself on the American hard courts. He lost to France's Gils Monfils at the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati in the second round earlier this month, his first match after an agonizing loss to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics.

"Now I've reached this swing and I've taken steps backwards, like I'm not doing well mentally, I'm not strong," said the 21-year-old, winner of four career slams. "I don't know how to control myself when faced with problems and I don't know how to handle it. I have to see exactly what happened, or what's going on with me."

"It's been a very emotional summer, very demanding," he continued. "... I've had my moments of disconnection, but I think I'm still learning about myself. Maybe, as a person, I need more time. I have to get to know myself, what I need. Maybe I'm the kind of person who, with a calendar like that, demands too much of himself mentally. I have to see exactly what's going on."

Alcaraz said he wasn't ready to discuss upcoming tournaments with reporters, instead preferring to talk to his team.

Alcaraz has three tournament wins this season, adding a victory at the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, Calif.

"I've had a spectacular summer at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. I left those tournaments saying that I'd taken a step forward mentally," he said. "I'd realized that to win big things, to win Grand Slam titles, you have to be mentally strong."