What's next for Carlos Alcaraz after US Open upset? Is he burned out?

Carlos Alcaraz has won two Grand Slam titles this season, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz lost to the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round of US Open 2024, where he was the top favourite to win the title. Alcaraz had better odds than Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic for winning at Flushing Meadows.

However, his run was halted by Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets, which was one of the biggest upsets in the US Open history. Before arriving in New York, he lost to France’s Gael Monfils in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters, where he also broke his racquet.

He also lost the gold medal match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Alcaraz has played 46 matches this season, recording 38 wins and eight losses. The Spaniard has also won three titles, the Indian Wells, Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships.

However, playing too many matches and tight scheduling has affected the 21-year-old’s form and performance. After his loss to Zandschulp in the third round of the US Open, he stated that he took a break from tennis by missing the Canadian Open after the Olympics. However, the break wasn’t sufficient.

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He said, “Probably, yeah. The tennis schedule is so tight. I’ve been playing a lot of matches lately. With Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympics. I took a little break after the Olympics. I thought it was enough. It was really helpful for me. Probably it wasn’t enough. I came here without as much energy as I thought I was going to come with,” said Alcaraz after the game.”

Alcaraz also affirmed that he isn’t giving any excuses for the loss but he needed more days for rest. He said, “But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. But it’s so tight. I’m a player who needs more days or more of a break coming into the big tournaments and important ones. I have to think about it and learn about it. Let’s see.”

Carlos Alcaraz is currently third in the race to the ATP Finals, and his spot is secured alongside Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner. However, his participation in the Shanghai Open and the Paris Masters is still uncertain.

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