Carlos Alcaraz’s 15-match Grand Slam unbeaten run ended at the U.S. Open with a sloppy 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round Thursday night in New York.

Alcaraz won the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July to raise his career total to four major championships, including taking the title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, and was the pre-tournament favorite to leave with the trophy again.

But he never found his footing against van de Zandschulp, 28, from the Netherlands. Alcaraz was way off, repeatedly missing the sorts of shots he usually makes routinely. After double-faulting to fall behind two sets to none — a deficit he’s never overcome — the No. 3-seeded Alcaraz was swept in three sets. He slung his equipment bag over this shoulder and trudged toward the locker room.

Glancing in the direction of his coach, 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz pointed his right index finger at his temple, then wagged that finger, as if to say, “I’m not thinking straight.”

Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner flashed their No. 1 form with powerful performances that moved them into the third round. Naomi Osaka couldn’t quite find the game that once had her on top of the rankings.

Swiatek raced by Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-0, 6-1, finishing off the match in 65 minutes.

Sinner downed Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in 1 hour, 39 minutes.

But on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court at night, Osaka’s forehand faltered in key moments and the two-time U.S. Open champion was eliminated by Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-6 (5).

No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, moved into the third round along with No. 10 Alex de Minaur, who will next face Dan Evans. Evans’ victory in a tidy 2 hours, 37 minutes was three hours quicker than it took him to beat Karen Khachanov in the first round, their match setting a U.S. Open record by lasting 5 hours, 35 minutes.

Another Italian, Jasmine Paolini, played just three points before advancing when Karolina Pliskova appeared to injure her left foot. The No. 5-seeded Paolini, who has reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in her breakout season, advanced past the second round of the U.S. Open for the first time.

Other women’s winners included No. 6 Jessica Pegula, No. 15 Anna Kalinskaya, No. 16 Liudmilla Samsonova and No. 18 Diana Shnaider. Pegula took out fellow American Sofia Kenin.

But No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the tournament before her second-round match with a lower back injury, sending French qualifier Jessika Ponchet to the weekend.

No. 7 seed Hurbert Hurkacz was eliminated in straight sets by Jordan Thompson, and No. 16 Sebastian Korda was knocked out by Tomas Machac.

Scheffler leads by 7 at Tour Championship

Scottie Scheffler started the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead based on his dominant season. Then he looked dominant as ever, posting the best round at 6-under 65 to build a seven-shot lead and take a huge step toward the FedEx Cup title.

Scheffler had five birdies over his last seven holes on a sweltering afternoon at renovated East Lake in Atlanta to pull away from Xander Schauffele and everyone else.

He made birdie from the bunker on the par-5 18th hole with an 8-foot putt and took his spot in the PGA Tour record book with an asterisk. No one has ever led by seven after 18 holes as far back as the tour keeps such records.

The asterisk is because he was only one shot better than Collin Morikawa and four others who each had a 66.

This is the sixth year of the “starting strokes” format at the FedEx Cup finale. Scheffler was the No. 1 seed based on his six PGA Tour victories, which includes the Masters and The Players Championship. He started the tournament at 10-under par and with a two-shot lead over Xander Schauffele, the double major winner and No. 2 seed.

This is the third straight year Scheffler has started with the lead. He has yet to win the FedEx Cup and its $25 million bonus.

• Marina Alex found the TPC Boston much to her liking, playing bogey-free for a 4-under 68 that gave her a one-shot lead in the inaugural FM Championship.

Curry, Warriors reach extension for 2026-27

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have agreed to extend his contract for the 2026-27 season, one in which the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and Olympic gold medalist will earn nearly $63 million.

Curry is now guaranteed about $178 million for the next three seasons; about $55.8 million for this season, about $59.6 million for 2025-26 and now about $62.6 million — the most the Warriors could offer by league rule — for 2026-27.

Aiyuk ends ‘hold-in,’ agrees to 4-year deal

Brandon Aiyuk’s long contract dispute with San Francisco came to an end when the star receiver agreed on a four-year contract to stay with the 49ers.

The sides came to the agreement after Aiyuk missed his second practice despite being cleared by team doctors to participate.

NFL Network first reported the agreement that will pay Aiyuk $120 million over four years with $76 million in guarantees.

• New England Patriots rookie head coach Jerod Mayo named veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett as his starter over rookie first-round draft pick Drake Maye.