“I’m not looking forward to the matches at all,” Botic Van de Zandschulp said after enduring a terrible loss at the French Open. The Dutch pro, 28, has been plagued with poor form this season. Adamant on finding success on the tour and in the heat of the defeat, Zandschulp made an honest admission. And, mind you, it crazed the tennis world.

Not moving past the first round has become a ritual for the Dutch talent. Except for reaching the finals of the Brawo Open, his performances have been nothing to write home about. Having mustered the courage to try his luck again, his hopes for a successful campaign at Roland Garros ended prematurely in a straight-set defeat to Fabio Fognini in the first round. This, in turn, prompted him to admit that he might consider retirement.

Zandschulp started questioning himself after toppling out of the Top 100 merely a month before commencing his clay court run. While talking to NOS, he confessed, “I like the training. But I’m not looking forward to the matches at all.” Candidly stating that he has come to blows with his performance in the past 12 months, the Dutch extensively highlighted how his coach also acknowledged the mental block he’s been bearing. “Peter (his coach) also finds it difficult that I am not looking forward to the matches.”

That 1-6, 1-6, 5-7 defeat to Fognini in Roland Garros seemed to have been the final straw. It capped off a forgettable first half of 2024, which featured not getting past the second round in most tournaments. With bad days piling up one after the other, Botic Van de Zandschulp didn’t think he could take it anymore, leaving him to question his future in competitive tennis.

“Of course, everyone has a bad day now and then, but if there are too many of them, you have to ask yourself whether it’s still worth it,” he said at the French Open. It’s like how Dominic Thiem came to terms with the fact that he may not get back to playing at the same level he used to pre-injury, compelling him to announce that this would be his last year on tour. After constantly trying tournament after tournament and not seeing any significant improvement in results, there comes a time when you just have to let go. Thiem decided 2024 was it, and Van de Zandschulp came extremely close to doing so himself.

The thing about tennis (or any other individual sport, for that matter) is that it’s tough. Yes, physically, but also mentally. No matter how well you perform at a tournament, you can end up as one of only two things: a winner or a loser. There’s no in-between. Unfortunately, there are usually a lot more losers than winners. As for Botic Van de Zandschulp, he had what was almost a fairytale run at the 2021 US Open, leading to his career-high ranking of No. 22 in 2022. But since then, it’s been difficult for him on tour.

After sustaining multiple injuries and frequently changing coaches for the past season, the Dutchman saw returning to the court as daunting “to leave home.” The 28-year-old wrapped up the idea of quitting by asking “whether I still want to continue. No one has to feel sorry for me. It’s something I have to figure out for myself.”

However, it seems Botic Van de Zandschulp hasn’t lost hope just yet. He is slated to lock horns with Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open, wherein he addressed his upcoming encounter with the Spaniard.

Botic Van de Zandschulp skeptical on what to expect against Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz will have to be careful. Naturally, contesting against an opponent with nothing to lose and no high expectations riding on him can prove lethal to the Spaniard. Moreover, he seems mentally exhausted lately. Having endured a heartbreaking Olympic gold medal match loss to Novak Djokovic, followed by an early exit at the Cincinnati Masters, the No. 3 seed isn’t at his best.

Regardless, Botic Van de Zandschulp adequately acknowledged his on-court skills. After triumphing in the opening round – getting past Denis Shapovalov in straight sets – the Dutchman said, “It will be a great match because he is one of the best players in the world. He can do anything with a tennis ball. You don’t know what to expect in a positive sense; I just have to play. It’s fun to play against him because he varies a lot, and that’s what I like. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

The former World No. 1 will have to avoid danger and retain his energy if he hopes to dig deep in New York. While Zandschulp’s challenge can trouble him, chances are, the Spanish talent surfs through the showdown scheduled at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, August 39.

Update as of August 30: Botic Van de Zandschulp delivered the shock of the tournament so far, ousting Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. In an incredible showing of aggressive tennis, the Dutchman had an answer for everything Alcaraz threw at him, similar to how Van de Zandschulp navigated the 2021 US Open.

After making his way through the qualifiers back then (coming back from a set down in all three), the Dutchman made it to the quarterfinals after defeating the likes of Ben Shelton, Diego Schwartzman, and Casper Ruud. However, he lost to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev in the last 8. As for this season’s trip to Flushing Meadows, he seemed quite pleased after defeating the World No. 3.

Calling it an “unbelievable night,” Van de Zandschulp said, “I got a lot of confidence from the [first round] match. From point 1, I believe here today that I could [have] a chance.” The Dutchman stayed calm, played aggressive tennis as his coach suggested, and made the most of every opportunity Alcaraz gave him. Next up in the third round is Jack Draper.