Carlos Alcaraz survives scare against Li Tu to move into second round of 2024 US Open – India TV

Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare in the first round of the US Open when he needed four sets to fend off the challenge of Li Tu and advance to the second round.

The third seeded Spaniard was expected to steamroll his Australian qualifier, ranked 186th in the world, but the latter showed plenty of determination before going down 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. The Paris Olympic silver medallist made a bright start, winning the first set, but was “surprised” when Tu staged a resounding comeback to win the next set 6-4.

However, Alcaraz pulled himself together and finally mastered the challenge with flying colors.

“First of all, I am really happy to have made it through and [have] a chance to be better in the next round,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “I obviously felt good on the pitch. I think I hit the ball well. I moved well.”

“(There are) a few things I need to improve if I want to stay in the race, but of course I have to give him credit. He played really good tennis and surprised me a little bit in the second set. I leave the court satisfied with my performance.”

Alcaraz is just a few matches away from becoming the third male tennis player in the Open Era to win the French Open, Wimbledon Championships and US Open in the same year after Rod Laver (1969) and Rafael Nadal (2010) made 18 unforced errors in the second round as the Australian got going.

“In the first set I only made two unforced errors. In the second set I made 18. That was the big difference for me,” said Alcaraz.

“He started playing better, obviously serving better, playing more aggressively and not making as many errors as he did in the first set. But as far as I'm concerned, it went from two unforced errors to 18, a huge difference for me.”

Alcaraz will now face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. The Spaniard has extended his winning streak to 15 matches.