Carlos Alcaraz needs four sets to survive Tu in US Open R1 | ATP Tour

Match Report

Alcaraz wants 4 units to outlive Tu in US Open R1

Spaniard earns sixtieth main match win, subsequent faces van de Zandschulp

August 28, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz was rushing in direction of a runaway opening-round win on the US Open Tuesday evening earlier than needing to recalibrate after hitting a second-set speedbump in opposition to Australian Li Tu.

The 21-year-old prolonged his main match-winning streak to fifteen after a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win in opposition to the World No. 186 qualifier. Alcaraz goals to turn out to be the third man within the Open Period to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in the identical 12 months. Rod Laver (1969) and Rafael Nadal (2010) achieved the feat.

“To start with, I am actually joyful to get via and [have] an opportunity to be higher within the subsequent spherical,” Alcaraz stated in his post-match press convention. “Clearly, I felt properly on court docket. I feel I hit the ball properly. I moved properly.

“[There are] just a few issues that I’ve to enhance if I wish to preserve going within the draw, however clearly I’ve to present credit score to him as properly. He performed actually good tennis and stunned me a little bit bit within the second set. I go away the court docket proud of my efficiency.”

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Carrying a sleeveless shirt as a part of an all-black equipment, the 2022 champion Alcaraz raced to a set and a break lead below the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Tu, who was competing in his first match in opposition to a Prime 50 opponent, settled in from a nervy begin and started pressuring Alcaraz’s second serve with early returns.

Alcaraz dropped three consecutive video games, together with a topsy-turvy 10-minute service recreation at 4-5 within the second set. Tu, 28, transformed his fifth set level to stage the match.

After 18 unforced errors within the second set, Alcaraz polished his recreation from the baseline and regarded to dictate play together with his forehand. He stepped round his backhand and crushed the ball inside-out to attract errors from the Aussie’s one-hander.

“The primary set, I made simply two unforced errors. The second set I made 18. That was the large distinction for me,” Alcaraz assessed.

“He began to play higher, clearly serving higher, enjoying extra aggressive and never making quite a lot of errors that he did within the first set. However speaking about myself, it was from two to 18 unforced errors, an enormous distinction for me.”

Alcaraz created 19 break possibilities, changing seven of them, throughout the two-hour, 42-minute contest, which was his sixtieth match win at Grand Slam stage. The four-time main champion hammered 50 winners and gained 80 per cent of his first-serve factors. Greater than half of his unforced errors got here within the second set.

Up subsequent for Alcaraz is 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. The Dutchman gained 61 per cent of his second-serve return factors and dedicated 33 unforced errors, in comparison with the Canadian’s 52.

Tu was competing in a Slam for simply the second time in his profession and first for the reason that 2021 Australian Open. He produced moments of excellent shotmaking from the baseline and confirmed off fast reflexes at internet. The Adelaide native soaked within the second, usually cracking brilliant smiles within the warmth of battle. The group set free a refrain of, ‘Tuuuuuu’ within the latter phases of the match, a second the qualifier will always remember.