Carlos Alcaraz, ranked No. 3, triumphed over Australian qualifier Li Tu in an intense four-set match to advance in the US Open, finishing with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
This match marked Alcaraz’s first round on the Arthur Armstrong Stadium court, where he initially raced ahead before struggling with errors that allowed Tu to take the second set. However, Alcaraz regained control in the third set, breaking Tu’s serve to take a decisive lead. He ultimately secured victory with his eighth ace, setting up a second-round clash against Dutch player Botic Van De Zandschulp.
Tu, who has had a unique journey in tennis, winning three qualifying matches to earn his spot at the tournament, surprised Alcaraz with his strong performance. The Spaniard acknowledged Tu’s improved game after the first set, expressing interest in following his progress in the sport.
Despite a recent ankle injury, Alcaraz demonstrated his resilience, thanking the fans for an energetic atmosphere, noting it was one of the most vibrant crowds he had played in front of.
Alcaraz, who claimed the French Open earlier this summer and secured a title at Wimbledon, aims to add another US Open trophy to his achievements. A victory would see him join the ranks of Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal as the only men to win the three major championships within the same calendar year during the Open era.
In other notable matches, 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Thanasi Kokkinakis in a closely contested match. Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, has yet to progress beyond the third round at the US Open, while Kokkinakis celebrated his first US Open win since 2019.
Top seed Jannik Sinner started his campaign with a solid win against Mackenzie McDonald, and former champion Daniil Medvedev also advanced following a tough match against Dusan Lajovic.
Other results included victories for Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Hubert Hurkacz, and Alex De Minaur, who showed no lingering effects from a recent injury. Stan Wawrinka, however, was eliminated after losing to Mattia Bellucci.