New York: In a riveting opening match at the 2024 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz battled through a spirited performance by 186th-ranked Australian Li Tu to secure a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, already a champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, extended his remarkable Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches. With this win, he inches closer to joining legends Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal as the only men in the Open Era to achieve the coveted feat of winning the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in a single year.
Alcaraz’s start was nothing short of electrifying. He stormed to a 4-0 lead, effortlessly capturing the first set with a blend of powerful serves and crisp groundstrokes. However, the match took an unexpected turn as Tu, coming through the qualifying rounds, began to settle into the rhythm of the imposing Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Australian’s newfound confidence saw him snatch the second set, leveling the match and pushing Alcaraz to dig deep.
The third set witnessed a dramatic shift. Alcaraz, demonstrating his trademark resilience, broke Tu’s serve to gain a 4-3 lead. From that moment on, the Spaniard was unstoppable, reeling off eight consecutive games. He dominated the third set and surged to a 5-0 lead in the fourth, showcasing a blend of power and precision that left the crowd in awe. Despite Tu’s brave attempts to fight back, including saving two match points, Alcaraz clinched victory with a flawless love service game.
“I am really happy to get through and have a chance to be better in the next round,” Alcaraz said with a relieved smile. “I felt great on the court—my shots were sharp, and I moved well. There are still some areas I need to work on to keep progressing, but I must give credit to Li. He played some impressive tennis and caught me off guard a bit in the second set.”
Throughout the match, Alcaraz displayed both brilliance and vulnerability. He notched up 50 winners but also racked up 30 unforced errors, 18 of which came during the second set. Tu took full advantage of these lapses, converting his fifth set point to claim the second set.
Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz remarked on the stark contrast in his game between the first and second sets. “I made only two unforced errors in the first set, but that number jumped to 18 in the second. It was a huge difference, and it gave Li the confidence to play more aggressively and challenge me more.”
As the third seed, Alcaraz—who celebrated his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022—will face 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. A potential semi-final clash with top-ranked Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner looms, promising more thrilling tennis to come.
