Explore Carlos Alcaraz’s remarkable first-round victory at the 2024 US Open, highlighting his grit and determination on the court. A must-read for tennis fans!
Introduction:
The 2022 US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz, was less accustomed to such circumstances at the 2024 US Open first round. Still only a young man, Alcaraz often displays poise and precision on court, but at times in this match he appeared out of sorts, failing to get into any sort of rhythm against the unheralded Australian qualifier Li Tu. Alcaraz’s normally pinpoint groundstrokes were errant, and backhand volleys that should have been routine flew wide, as fans and commentators wondered if an upset was at hand.
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Rocky First Set for Carlos Alcaraz Alcaraz as he Stumbles but Recovers
The match, then, began pretty much as most people could have guessed it would: Carlos Alcaraz raced to a 4-0 lead in 15 minutes on the strength of form that has won four Grand Slam titles. As might have been expected, the first set ended 6-2 for Alcaraz and seemingly set the stage for a routine victory. But from the start of the second set, Li Tu started finding his feet and revealing cracks in Alcaraz’s armor.

But the 28-year-old former youth tennis coach, ranked 186th in the world, proved resilient, saving several break points, fighting back from a break down to take the second set 6-4 and send Arthur Ashe Stadium into a frenzy. Never previously beaten in the first round of a major, Alcaraz looked both frustrated and out of sorts, his confidence rocked by the resistance he was meeting.
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The Turning Point: Alcaraz Regroups in Third
The third set began amidst palpable tension as Tu just kept dancing in and out of trouble, his movements continually extending Alcaraz’s frustrations into one missed opportunity. At 3-3, the match hung in the balance, but it was at that point that Alcaraz found the composure he had lacked. A consolidated break point was followed by a strong service game to flip the momentum once again.
From there, the match took on a decidedly different turn. Refocused and ready, Alcaraz started to unfurl his patented combination of pounding forehands and daring winners. The New York crowd sensed it, too, getting behind the young Spaniard and elevating him to great heights. Alcaraz went on to capture the third set 6-3, and the momentum now all his way, he breezed through the fourth set 6-1 to book his place in the second round.

Post-Match Reflection: Alcaraz Learns from His Mistakes
The young man was candid with his thoughts of what transpired on the court in the post-match interview with ESPN. “I had to accept that I lost the second set and had to clear my mind,” he said. “I had chances in the second set that I didn’t take, but I knew I was playing well, hitting the ball well. That was a few mistakes, and I tried not to do the same mistakes in the third set than I made in the second set and try to make it harder for him, push him to the limit and be really focused on every ball.

But the fact that he could adapt and learn from his mistakes flowed from the first point-a trait that has stood him in good stead right through his young career. Also, with 50 winners to 30 unforced errors, the match testified to his resilience and determination to succeed when things weren’t going his way.

Moving Forward: Alcaraz’s Quest for a Third Major in 2024
Alcaraz gained the second round with his victory over Li Tu and snapped a rare two-match losing streak. The young Spaniard had lost the gold-medal match at the Tokyo Olympics to Novak Djokovic and his opening match in Cincinnati to Gael Monfils. But the victory in New York kept alive his dream of a third major title this year, to add to his successes at Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier in the year.
A US Open win would put Alcaraz in an elite class of only two players, Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal, to have pulled off French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open victories within the same calendar year. It will be one of those historic feats that assure him a place among the all-time greats of the Open Era.

Next Challenge: A Daunting Second Round
The journey in the 2024 US Open is far from over for Alcaraz, and his next opponent is no child’s play. He is pegged to square up with 2021 US Open quarterfinalist and former world No. 22 Botic van De Zandschulp. Having knocked off the 2020 US Open quarterfinalist Dennis Shapovalov in the opening round, Van De Zandschulp will be no pushover in front of Alcaraz.

The Spaniard will need to come into the court with his A-game, as van De Zandschulp does have experience and game to really force him to his limits. However, if Alcaraz can keep building on the experience from his opening match, he will be in a great position to make a deep run into the tournament.
Conclusion: Alcaraz’s Milestone Victory
Alcaraz’s defeat of Li Tu marked his 60th win in Grand Slam singles-a feat that came from just 70 matches. This puts him in second place behind the 60 major victories reached by John McEnroe in 69 matches. As Alcaraz works his way toward a possible second straight US Open title, the tennis world will be watching to see if he can add to an already impressive legacy.