Carlos Alcaraz’s Rotterdam mission: ‘I will try to enjoy, but I want revenge’

World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz debuts in Rotterdam on Tuesday night time towards Botic van de Zandschulp. The Spaniard will attempt to get pleasure from his first duel on the prestigious indoor occasion, though he understands the gang won’t stand by his aspect.

Alcaraz praised van de Zandschulp, calling him a prime participant. The younger gun defeated the Dutchman two instances. Nevertheless, he suffered a heavy US Open loss a yr in the past, falling in straight units and searching for revenge in Rotterdam!

Carlos Alcaraz amuses followers on the Rotterdam Open by displaying his unbelievable ball management.

Watch:#ABNAMROOPEN pic.twitter.com/NgwMlTb2EH

— Victor Okechukwu (@Uzochuwu1) February 4, 2025

The Spaniard suffered one in every of his worst losses of the 2024 season in New York. Botic ousted him 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, ending Carlos’ streak of 15 Main wins and celebrating his career-best triumph. Alcaraz struggled to match the rival’s recreation within the opening set.

He raised his stage within the second set and third however dropped the pivotal factors to expertise his earliest defeat at Majors since Wimbledon 2021. The Dutchman confronted solely 5 break factors and obtained damaged two instances. The Spaniard felt the strain and cracked beneath it.

Botic van de Zandschulp & Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot

The lower-ranked participant took 43% of the return factors and turned them into six breaks from 9 alternatives. Botic tamed his strokes extra effectively and outplayed the 2022 champion within the mid-range and most superior rallies.

There was just one participant on the courtroom within the opening set! Alcaraz suffered a break within the second recreation and fell 3-0 down following the rival’s backhand winner within the subsequent one. Van de Zandschulp made one other push on the return within the sixth recreation.

He landed a smash winner for a double break and a 5-1 lead. Botic served for the opener in recreation seven and held at love for 6-1 in half an hour. Alcaraz squandered a break level within the second recreation of the second set and obtained damaged within the subsequent one.

Botic van de Zandschulp & Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot

Carlos delivered his first break of the match within the fourth recreation, locking the end result at 2-2. The Dutchman held at 4-5 to extend the set and delivered a break a couple of minutes later after the Spaniard’s pricey double fault.

Botic wrapped up the set with a maintain at love in recreation 12, transferring 6-1, 7-5 in entrance after an hour and 28 minutes. Alcaraz sprayed errors within the fifth recreation of the third set and obtained damaged, transferring nearer to the exit door.

Van de Zandschulp suffered a break within the sixth recreation after a double fault, bringing the previous champion again to the optimistic aspect. Carlos reached a deuce on the return within the eighth recreation however couldn’t create break probabilities.

Botic held with a few winners and made a push on the return within the subsequent one. He delivered a break after the Spaniard’s wild forehand, transferring 5-4 in entrance and serving for the win. Van de Zandschulp cracked a robust serve on a match level in recreation ten, rising on the prime in model.

“Botic is a top player. We have met a couple of times, and he beat me in straight sets the last time we played. That’s why I’m seeking revenge. I will try to enjoy my first match in Rotterdam, although the crowd will support the home player.

They will be against me, but I will try to enjoy and perform at my best. I’m here for the challenge, and let’s see how the match will unfold,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned.