Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish sensation, continued his impressive Grand Slam run with a commanding performance in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday. Alcaraz defeated Australia’s Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a match that showcased both his formidable skill and occasional vulnerability.
Alcaraz, who has already claimed victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, began his quest for the US Open title with a dominant start. He raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, ultimately securing it 6-2. The young Spaniard’s powerful serve and aggressive play seemed to overwhelm Tu, who was ranked 186th and had come through the qualifiers.
However, Tu demonstrated resilience and composure, adjusting to the intensity of the Arthur Ashe Stadium and Alcaraz’s powerful serve. The Australian broke back in the second set, capitalizing on a series of unforced errors by Alcaraz to win the set 6-4. Tu’s performance in this set was marked by a mix of strategic play and consistent pressure, which briefly disrupted Alcaraz’s rhythm.
The match appeared to shift momentum once more in the third set. Alcaraz’s break of serve to lead 4-3 proved pivotal. From that point on, the Spaniard seemed to regain his dominant form, winning eight consecutive games. He won the third set 6-3 and surged to a 5-0 lead in the fourth set, demonstrating his ability to rebound effectively after losing a set.
Despite Tu’s valiant effort to fight back, saving a pair of match points, Alcaraz closed out the match with a love service game, sealing his victory 6-1 in the fourth set. Alcaraz’s performance was marked by 50 winners, a testament to his aggressive play, though he also committed 30 unforced errors throughout the match. The majority of these errors came in the second set, where Alcaraz struggled with his consistency and allowed Tu to capitalize on the lapses.
Post-match, Alcaraz expressed a mixture of satisfaction and determination. “I’m really happy to get through and get a chance to be better the next round,” he said. “Obviously, I felt well on court. I think I hit the ball well. I moved well.” He acknowledged the challenges he faced, particularly in the second set, and highlighted the need for improvement in his game. “A few things that I have to improve if I want to, you know, keep going in the draw, but obviously I have to give credit to him as well that he played really good tennis and today surprised me a little bit in the second set.”
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will face Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. Van de Zandschulp, who reached the quarter-finals in 2021, will provide a significant challenge as Alcaraz continues his pursuit of becoming the third man in the modern era to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in the same year, joining Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal in that exclusive group.
Alcaraz’s journey at the US Open is closely watched as he seeks to extend his Grand Slam winning streak to 16 matches. With his impressive start and clear determination, he remains a strong contender for the title. The potential path to the final includes a possible semi-final showdown with top-ranked Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling second week of the tournament.
