Carlos Alcaraz was given a scare by Australian qualifier Li Tu in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday before going on to seal a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Four-time grand slam champion Alcaraz got off to a hot start before the errors began to pile up and he dropped the second set.
The Spaniard restored order by whipping a forehand to break in the third for a 4-3 lead and never looked back, sealing the win with his eighth ace to set up a second-round meeting with Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp.
Tu, an Adelaide native who stepped away from tennis in 2014 for six years to get a degree and start a tennis academy, won three qualifying matches to earn his first appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium court against the third seed.
“Obvious he surprised me a little bit,” Alcaraz said in an on-court interview with Nick Kyrgios.
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.
“It’s one of the most electric courts, electric crowds that I have played in front of,” he said.
Top seed Jannik Sinner left the doping controversy that marred his U.S. Open preparations in the rear view mirror with a largely drama-free start to his campaign.
The spotlight was firmly on Sinner in the day session as the Italian overcame a slow start to seal a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over American Mackenzie McDonald a week after he was cleared of any wrongdoing over two failed tests in March for a banned drug.
Sinner, who has maintained his innocence, has been under intense scrutiny after escaping a doping ban but the 23-year-old was pleased to have the backing of fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Frances Tiafoe advanced when his opponent, Alexander Shevchenko, gave a walkover while trailing 4-6, 1-6, 0-1.
Fifth Daniil Medvedev fought off a spirited challenge from Dusan Lajovic to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, but 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was not so lucky, losing 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Thanasi Kokkkinakis.
After losing a close first set in a tiebreak, Tsitsipas rallied to win the second and level the match, but appeared to have an abdominal issue late on before slumping to defeat in three hours and 54 minutes.
Tsitsipas, a two-time grand slam finalist, has a poor record at Flushing Meadows and has never made it past the third round of the US Open.
He also struggled in the build-up to the tournament, winning just one of his three matches at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters.
For Kokkinakis, it was a first win at the New York Grand Slam since 2019.
“I had a five-set battle with him a couple of years ago at the Australian Open and I was expecting a war,” Kokkinakis said in his on-court interview.
“It was physical out there but I just tried to stay focused, stay the course and just tried to play every point.”
Badosa prevails
Paula Badosa, the 25th seed, defeated American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the US Open for the first time.
American Madison Keys also heads into the third round after registering a 6-4, 6-0 win over 18-year-old qualifier Maya Joint of Australia.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka stunned 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 on her return to New York after a maternity break.
Former champion Emma Raducanu was unable to avoid the exit door as the Briton fell 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to Sofia Kenin, while fourth seed Elena Rybakina overcame a late fightback to beat Destanee Aiava 6-1, 7-6(1).
French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini was made to work hard by 2019 New York champion Bianca Andreescu but went through 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4.
Playing in her final grand slam before retiring at the end of the season, Danielle Collins was beaten 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 by fellow American Caroline Dolehide.
Another American who recently announced her retirement, Shelby Rogers, lost the final match of her career 6-4, 6-3 to No. 6 Jessica Pegula at night.
Caroline Wozniacki sailed into the second round after she defeated Nao Hibino of Japan, 6-0, 6-1. Under the unrelenting midday summer sun, Wozniacki was merciless in dismissing qualifier Hibino, currently ranked No. 150.
Yuki & Olivetti up
In men’s doubles, India’s Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti defeated American duo Ryan Seggerman and Patrik Trhac 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.
Reuters, AP/PTI
