Carlos Alcaraz returns to practice for the first time since shock US Open 2024 exit

Carlos Alcaraz was recently seen practicing for the first time since his shock exit from the 2024 US Open. The Spaniard bowed out of the New York Slam in the second round, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp.

Alcaraz began his campaign at Flushing Meadows with a win against Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. However, in the second round, he was outplayed by the Dutch, losing 1-6, 5-7, 4-6.

Now the four-time Grand Slam champion has returned to the court to practice for the remainder of the season. Recently, a video of him practicing was shared on social media.

Alcaraz's loss in the second round of the 2024 US Open sent shockwaves through the tennis community. When questioned about his unexpected loss in the press conference, the young Spaniard lamented the mentally demanding matches he played throughout the summer, including the grueling finals at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Paris Olympics.

"Mentally, I'm not well, not strong. This is a problem. Right now, I don't want to say anything. I want to talk to my people and see what steps we take next. I hadn't thought about all the demanding matches being so close together and how that could affect me," he said (via punto de break).

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Carlos Alcaraz after 2R exit at the 2024 US Open: "I'm not changing, that's the problem"

Carlos Alcaraz loses in the second round at the 2024 US Open (Image via Getty)

Following his surprising defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round of the 2024 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz addressed the media. The 21-year-old reflected on the loss, stating that he should strive to learn from such setbacks.

"Well in a few matches that I've felt like that. You know after every match that I felt like that I always said the same. I said to learn about it. I have to think about it and if I'm feeling what I'm thinking right now that I'm not changing, that's the problem," Alcaraz said at 4:10.

The Spaniard rued not being able to push himself enough to change the course of the match.

"If I'm going to sit here after the matches, I'm going to feel like I couldn't deal with it, I couldn't change the match or I couldn't push myself up a little bit. So I have to think about it, I have to learn about it, and going to never change is going to be really tough if I want you to improve. So I can't say much about it," he added.

Alcaraz had a successful Grand Slam season, winning the French Open and Wimbledon titles. However, he faced early exits at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals, and at the US Open, where he was eliminated in the second round.