Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open loss: 5 players who benefit most – with rankings boosts for Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev secured

Oli Dickson Jefford 30 Aug 2024 8:22 AM

(L-R) Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev.

Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev stand to benefit from Carlos Alcaraz's US Open loss.

The biggest shock of the US Open so far saw Carlos Alcaraz crash out on Thursday night.

The world No 3 never really got going in a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp, delivering a rather bleak assessment of his performance in his post-match press conference.

Alcaraz may be out of the tournament, but there are plenty who are still in – and stand to benefit from the result.

We look at five men who have been handed a potentially key US Open chance.

Jannik Sinner

Sinner was not in any rankings danger heading into the US Open; with only fourth round points to defend, he was guaranteed to stay as the world No 1 after the tournament.

However, this result means that his cushion over Alcaraz has grown significantly – and the gap could widen even further.

In the live ATP Rankings, the Spaniard has slipped down to 6,690 points, while Sinner holds 9,280..

That is already a gap of 2,590 points, though the Italian could move almost 4,500 ranking points ahead of his rival should he go on to win the title, and he is in pole position to finish 2024 as the No 1.

Sinner was also projected to face Alcaraz in the last four, meaning his draw has opened up nicely.

Alexander Zverev

Zverev is in the bottom half of the US Open draw, away from Alcaraz in the top half, so there is no initial match benefit for him.

However, the German has been dealt a huge rankings boost thanks to this shock result.

The current world No 4 is now up to second in the ATP Live Rankings and is guaranteed to be ranked above Alcaraz once the tournament is over, with 6,775 points to his name as things stand.

Zverev could still be leapfrogged by Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev if results go against him, but he is now ensured of at least a slight boost no.

US Open News

Jannik Sinner responds to stinging Nick Kyrgios swipes and hints at locker room hostility

Elena Rybakina rumours swirl as she pulls out of US Open days after sacking her coach

Jack Draper

Though he beat Alcaraz in Queen’s a couple of months ago, 25th seed Draper would have been a slight underdog heading into a projected third round against the Spaniard.

However, with the third seed no longer in the draw, the Brit has been handed a significant opening.

Draper has round four points to defend from 2023 and now only has van de Zandschulp standing in between him and the second week.

The Dutchman should not be written off, but there is no reason why Draper cannot beat him – and potentially push on to a first major quarter-final.

Alex de Minaur

Australia’s de Minaur is seeded 10th in New York, though expectations for him were fairly limited after suffering a significant injury at Wimbledon.

However, things have played out perfectly for him in recent hours.

While he convincingly dispatched Otto Virtanen to reach the third round, Alcaraz was joined by seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz and 16th seed Sebastian Korda in crashing out the tournament.

That makes de Minaur the highest-ranked played left in the second quarter of the draw; having reached French Open and Wimbledon quarter-finals this year, can he make it three in a row?

Botic van de Zandschulp

The man of the moment himself can certainly build on this and go on a run in the draw.

He is unlikely to receive as many gifts against Draper as he did versus Alcaraz, though the level he brought to the contest could make him dangerous against anyone.

The Dutch star is back inside the top 7o of the live rankings and would jump back inside the top 60 with another win.