Carlos Alcaraz was given a scare by Australian qualifier Li Tu in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday (August 27) before going on to seal a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.
Four-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Olympics, got off to a hot start before the errors began to pile up and he dropped the second set.
Alcaraz won the first set with ease and the subdued crowd appeared to resign itself to a one-sided match.
However, Tu turned the tables with a passing shot that flew by the charging Alcaraz for a 5-4 lead in the second and broke serve with a beautiful one-handed backhand down the line to level the contest, raising his hand to his ear as the crowd came to life.
Alcaraz’s power began to wear Tu down in the third set in hot and humid conditions and the 21-year-old went on to claim the win before thanking the fans for creating an “electric” atmosphere.
The 21-year-old, who won the U.S. Open in 2022, showed no signs that his movement was limited by a right ankle injury he suffered during a practice session on Saturday.
