Carlos Alcaraz conqueror Botic van de Zandschulp admits he was “thinking about” retirement at the end of the year

After his shock win against Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, Botic van de Zandschulp revealed that he contemplated retirement recently.

Carlos Alcaraz conqueror Botic van de Zandschulp admits he was “thinking about” retirement at the end of the year

Botic van de Zandschulp (via Getty Images)

Botic van de Zandschulp had given himself until the end of the year to turn things around after injuries left him considering retirement. However, after his 2024 US Open second-round victory over World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday (August 29), the Dutchman can put away the thought of hanging up his racket for now.

Last year, Van de Zandschulp bruised his left foot and later tore his ligament. He then contracted an infection on his right foot after healing from the bruised left foot. He began considering retirement from the sport in May after a disappointing first-round exit at the French Open.

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The 28-year-old arrived at the US Open with his last tour-level win coming in mid-July at the Gstaad Open. He had exited in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open, his first hard court match since Miami Open. However, the World No. 74 beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round in New York and then earned his biggest career win when he beat Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.

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Van de Zandschulp ended Alcaraz’s 15-match unbeaten Grand Slam run. He was speechless after the victory and revealed that he had been contemplating retirement since June.

Yeah, at the time I said it, I was thinking about it, of course. Yeah, it was just more the way things were going. I got injured last year. Still had some troubles with the injury from last year. That was for me like if I have to keep playing with the pain I had, yeah, then there was a chance maybe I would stop playing. Of course, I will give myself to the end of the year and see how everything is progressing. Yeah, of course, there was a serious thought.
Botic van de Zandschulp said at a press conference

Van de Zandschulp will be hoping to continue with his good form when he faces Jack Draper in the third round.

Botic Van de Zandschulp admits he is still processing his victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open

Botic van de Zandschulp has revealed that he has not fully grasped the magnitude of his victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. The World No. 74 stunned the Spaniard in straight sets to earn the highest-ranked win of his career.

Botic van de Zandschulp (via Getty Images)

Alcaraz was seeking to become the third man in the Open Era after Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open the same year. However, a poor display from him saw Van de Zandschulp end his time at Flushing Meadows early. After the win, the Dutchman stated that he was still processing the victory and that he might need more time to come to terms with what he had achieved.

Yeah, maybe I'm still processing it. Maybe in a couple of hours or tomorrow I will feel a little bit more emotional with what happened tonight. I am a little bit lost for words, it's been an incredible evening for me.
Botic van de Zandschulp said at a press conference

The 28-year-old reached his career-high ranking of World No. 22 in August 2022. Last year, he dropped below the Top 100 after several injuries. With his third-round run at the US Open, he is currently the World No. 68 in the live rankings and could rise in the ATP rankings if he manages to get past Jack Draper next.

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