US Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz survives early wobble as qualifier Li Tu lights up New York on debut

By the time Carlos Alcaraz turned 12, Li Tu had already retired once. The Australian was burned out and, at 18 in 2014, burdened by expectations.

Six years later, Tu returned to tennis and what became clear on Tuesday night? The 28-year-old was not going to let this first encounter, on his own second coming, go to waste.

The world number 186 promised before this first-round match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium: whatever happens, he will try to give Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, “three, four or five sets of hell”.

So Tu tried everything and threw everything at the No. 3 seed. He took a tumble on the opening point and in the second game. He did the splits – twice – and he hit an underarm serve that barely reached the net. He also disappeared for a moment at one point.

Tu’s resistance was finally broken after four sets and almost three hours. But not before he had put his body through hell and put Alcaraz through the mill. The Spaniard eventually triumphed 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1.

The Australian qualifier captured the hearts of fans on Tuesday night in his US Open debut

Their paths had never crossed until Tuesday night. Normally, they play on different tours and operate in different worlds. They were always unlikely dance partners—a qualifier making his US Open debut and the sport’s young superstar. But on Tuesday night, they joined forces to bring the crowd to its feet at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

What was shaping up to be a short, brutal beating turned into a brilliant fight. Everyone loved it – except Alcaraz and his team, that is. As Tu stood up and Arthur Ashe turned up the volume, Alcaraz muttered to himself and his corner.

He didn’t need that kind of training, especially after he twisted his ankle in training a few days ago. The only positive? He’s in the second round and his body held up. But the Spaniard will be concerned about how dramatically his game fell apart at times. He made just two unforced errors in a first set that flew by. He made 18 in the second set as Tu leveled the match.

Part of that shift was down to the qualifier, who normally plays on the Challenger circuit and had qualified for the main draw of a Slam for the first time. Tu looked like he was going to drown early on, but then he found his footing and treated this stadium to some great exchanges.

Alcaraz became frustrated when Tu got his footing and started enjoying New York

But many of Alcaraz’s wobbles were the result of his own erratic performance, sometimes a shadow of the Spaniard who has electrified Arthur Ashe in recent years.

There’s no time to panic yet, but if he wants to triumph again next week, if he wants to become only the seventh man in the Open era to win three Grand Slams in a single year, the 21-year-old needs to find a few more gears. It won’t work against Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and co.

Moments before he faced Arthur Ashe, Tu was asked by fellow countryman Nick Kyrgios if he could pull off the upset. Tu was not convinced and quickly explained why. The qualifier was broken in the opening match and was 3-0 down within 10 minutes. He had won just three points in that time.

Tu hasn’t won a match at ATP level all year. No wonder the Australian had a smile on his face when he finally got on the scoreboard. He whipped up the crowd and pumped his fist. We soon had a match under our belt.

The Spaniard, who triumphed here in 2022, was not at his best in the first round

You shocked the world number 3 by winning the second set – and then closed his ear to the crowd

As Tu took advantage of the opportunity, Alcaraz grew wilder. Still, at 4-3 in the second set, the world No. 3 was a break up and headed for an early evening.

Unfortunately, his opponent had other ideas – Tu broke Alcaraz to level the set and then level the match, needing five set points and celebrating by pressing his ear to the crowd.

Tu had never faced a top-50 player in his career until Tuesday night. Who could blame him for enjoying it? Eventually, Alcaraz righted the ship and began to force the Australian to surrender. From 2-3 in the third set, he won nine straight games.

Tu looked exhausted, but there was still time for one last stand – the Australian saved two match points to avoid a bagel. By then the crowd was cheering his name. They worship Alcaraz here, but even he stood up and applauded as Arthur Ashe bid farewell to another player who had won many hearts.

The two players embraced warmly after Alcaraz secured a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory