Carlos Alcaraz overcame a tough challenge from Australian qualifier Li Tu in the opening round of the 2024 US Open, securing a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory to advance to the second round in New York.
Carlos Alcaraz faced a challenging start to his 2024 US Open campaign, overcoming Australian qualifier Li Tu in a four-set battle on Tuesday.
The third-seeded Spaniard, fresh off an impressive summer that included a French Open title and a victory at Wimbledon, took the first step towards defending his US Open crown with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, began the match strongly, swiftly taking the first set and appearing poised for a straightforward victory.
However, Li Tu, making his debut on the prestigious Arthur Ashe Stadium court, defied expectations. After losing the first set, Tu settled into his game and began to challenge Alcaraz, breaking the Spaniard’s serve to win the second set and level the match.
The second set loss was a wake-up call for Alcaraz, who regained his composure in the third set. He broke Tu’s serve at a crucial moment, taking a 4-3 lead before closing out the set.
From there, the 21-year-old Spaniard’s power and experience proved too much for the Australian, as he sealed the victory in the fourth set with an emphatic eighth ace.
Despite dealing with a right ankle injury sustained during a practice session, Alcaraz showed no signs of being hindered by the setback.
His resilience and ability to adapt were evident as he overcame the challenging conditions of a hot and humid New York day.
Alcaraz’s win sets up a second-round clash with Dutch player Botic Van De Zandschulp. As the tournament progresses, Alcaraz remains on track to achieve a historic treble of Grand Slam titles in 2024, joining tennis legends Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal in the record books if he can secure the US Open title once again.
Follow us @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
