Carlos Alcaraz v Li Tu: US Open 2024 first round – as it happened

Carlos Alcaraz won his match against Li Tu with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, moving on to the second round of the US Open. In the final set, Alcaraz finished the match in style, hitting two powerful forehand winners, followed by a 125mph serve and a 120mph ace. This win extends his streak to 15 straight victories in Grand Slam tournaments.

When Alcaraz was leading 5-1 in the last set, Tu fought hard to save two match points and managed to win a game, earning applause from the crowd. However, Alcaraz quickly sealed the match by hitting more strong serves and forehand winners, leaving Tu with no chance. Tu will now serve to try to stay in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Sofia Kenin is serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set against Emma Raducanu. In the fourth set of Alcaraz’s match, he breaks Tu’s serve again, making the score 4-0. Tu is struggling, having double-faulted and made several errors, which handed Alcaraz another break. Tu is showing signs of fatigue, possibly even cramping.

Earlier in the set, Alcaraz quickly capitalized on the break, serving an ace and winning 14 of the last 15 points. Over on another court, Kenin gained an early lead in the deciding set against Raducanu, serving at 4-3.

Alcaraz also broke Tu’s serve at the beginning of the fourth set, taking a 2-0 lead as Tu’s energy levels dropped. After a long bathroom break, Tu returned, but Alcaraz easily held his serve, taking control of the match.

Things aren’t looking great for the Australian player right now, especially when it comes to fitness. Alcaraz takes the third set, winning 6-3!

In the ninth game of the third set, Alcaraz broke Tu’s serve. Tu’s errors piled up, putting him down 15-40 and giving Alcaraz two set points. Tu saved the first with a powerful 117mph serve and managed to save the second with a wide 91mph second serve that Alcaraz couldn’t return. However, another unforced error from Tu gave Alcaraz a third set point, which he finally converted. Alcaraz is now just one set away from victory and looks like he could keep playing for hours. Tu, on the other hand, seems exhausted.

Earlier, after Alcaraz broke Tu’s serve in the seventh game, he quickly consolidated the break, leaving Tu to serve to stay in the third set. In that seventh game, Tu started strong with a 116mph ace and won an intense 19-shot rally that got the crowd cheering. But his momentum quickly faded as Alcaraz responded with two quick winners, and a clearly tired Tu made a mistake, giving Alcaraz the break point.

Alcaraz had another chance to break Tu’s serve, and this time he took it, hitting a sharp-angled forehand from the baseline that Tu couldn’t reach!

In the third set: Alcaraz leads 6-2, 4-6, 3-3.

Alcaraz easily holds his serve with two powerful serves and a strong forehand winner from the baseline.

Earlier in the third set: Alcaraz is trailing 6-2, 4-6, 2-3. Tu faces a tough moment, falling behind 0-30 and then making a backhand error that puts Alcaraz at 30-40, giving him a break-point chance. Alcaraz misses this opportunity with a wayward backhand, and after a few tense moments, Tu manages to hold his serve.

Meanwhile, reader Laura wonders if we’ve forgotten about Emma Raducanu. I’ve noticed that Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has just forced a third set in her match against Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner. Since I’m busy covering the action from Ashe, I’ll have to update you on that match later.

We’ll keep you updated.

In the third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-6, 2-2. Alcaraz easily holds his serve, winning eight of the last 10 points. He definitely looks like the fitter player right now.

Earlier in the third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-6, 1-2 Tu. Tu recovers from 0-30 to win four quick points and hold serve.

Earlier in the third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-6, 1-1 Tu. Alcaraz quickly holds serve, finishing with a 125mph ace. After a rough service game to end the second set with three double faults, this is a relief.

Earlier in the third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-6, 0-1 Tu. Tu starts the third set with a hard-fought hold in a 14-point game, saving a break point at 30-40. He’s improved his game significantly over the last half-hour, while Alcaraz’s performance has dipped.

In the second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-6 Tu. Tu wins the second set by breaking Alcaraz in the 10th game.

Tu’s break in the second set: Alcaraz opens a crucial service game with a double fault. Then, a strong backhand from Tu puts Alcaraz behind 0-30. Alcaraz is now two points away from losing the second set! He manages to win one point but then hits a forehand into the net, giving Tu two set points.

Tu saves the first set point with a 104mph second serve that Tu can’t return. But Tu gets another set point, which Alcaraz saves with a powerful inside-out forehand and a volley winner. The crowd goes wild.

Back to deuce after Alcaraz sends a backhand into the net. Another double fault from Alcaraz gives Tu a third set point, which Tu almost wins when his forehand misses the baseline by inches. We’re back to deuce.

Alcaraz double-faults again, giving Tu a fourth set point.

And the relentless Alcaraz saves it! But now, under pressure in this intense game, Alcaraz misses a backhand, giving Tu a fifth set point. This time, Tu seizes the opportunity, hitting a precise backhand winner into the corner to win the second set!

Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-5 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu holds serve from 0-15 down, finishing with a forehand winner and a fist pump. Now Alcaraz will serve to stay in the second set after the change of ends.

Earlier in the second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-4 Tu (Tu to serve next). Things have become tense. Alcaraz seemed ready to take control of the second set and possibly the match, but he falls behind 0-15 and then 15-40 after Tu hits a brilliant backhand winner. Tu has two break points and only needs one. Alcaraz’s wayward forehand gives Tu the break, leveling the set at 4-4!

Earlier in the second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-3 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz continues to press and eventually breaks through. Tu falls behind 0-15, then 15-40 with two break points. Tu saves the first with a sharp 118mph serve, but a double fault hands Alcaraz the break and a chance to go two sets up.

Earlier in the second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 3-3 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz easily holds serve, finishing with a 107mph ace and three more winners.

Earlier in the second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 2-3 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu is now feeling the pressure.

The Aussie falls behind 0-30 after a stunning backhand winner from Alcaraz. Tu quickly recovers, winning three points in a row, including a beautiful backhand volley, to lead 40-30. But a couple of missed forehands put Tu at his first break point of the set, which he saves with a strong serve-and-volley play. However, Alcaraz gets another chance for a break. He misses this opportunity with a wide forehand, and then has a third break point that Tu also saves. Tu eventually holds serve, although he tries an underarm serve at game point, which fails and makes the crowd laugh. Tu apologizes to Alcaraz during the changeover.

Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 2-2 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz goes down 0-30 on his serve due to another unforced error and a double fault. He’s been a bit careless lately, with five unforced errors in the last two games after just three in the first 10. But he bounces back, winning four points in a row to hold serve.

Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 1-2 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu has steadied himself, going up 30-love thanks to some Alcaraz errors. He also hits a serve-and-volley winner that impresses the crowd. Alcaraz manages to win one point back but Tu holds serve after another Alcaraz forehand misses the mark. Tu has won 12 of the last 14 points on his serve.

Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 1-1 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz falls behind 0-15 on his serve with his third unforced error of the evening but quickly wins four points to hold serve. He’s only lost three points on his serve tonight.

Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 0-1 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu begins the second set with a solid hold, hitting his first ace of the night at 116 mph and getting all of his first serves in, except for a double fault at 30-love.

First set: Alcaraz 6-2 Tu (Alcaraz wins the first set). Alcaraz holds serve easily at love and takes the opening set in just 29 minutes. Though his first serve percentage isn’t high (50%), he has won 89% of his second-serve points, keeping Tu from gaining any advantage.

First set: Alcaraz 5-2 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu is down 0-30 on his serve, and Alcaraz is two points away from the set. Tu makes a comeback with a forehand volley winner after a long rally and then holds serve with a mix of powerful serves. Alcaraz will serve for the set after the changeover.

First set: Alcaraz 5-1 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz holds serve easily again, having won 12 of 14 points on his racket. Tu will now serve to stay in the set.

First set: Alcaraz 4-1 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu finally gets on the board, but not without a fight. Alcaraz, moving effortlessly despite an ankle injury from training, makes Tu work for every point. Tu manages to hold serve after an Alcaraz lob goes wide, earning applause from the crowd.

First set: Alcaraz 4-0 Tu (Tu to serve next). Alcaraz consolidates the break with a dominant service game, hitting a 110 mph service winner, a 124 mph ace, and a forehand winner. He’s already hit seven winners with just one unforced error.

First set: Alcaraz 3-0 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu is struggling to hold serve against Alcaraz, who is making things difficult for him.

Tu quickly falls to triple break point, including his first double fault of the night. He saves two break points with strong serves but then makes another forehand error, giving Alcaraz a double-break lead after just 10 minutes.

First set: Alcaraz 2-0 Tu (Tu to serve next). Tu finally gets on the board with a stylish play, winning a 10-shot rally and finishing with a backhand winner. But Alcaraz responds with a 116 mph ace and wins three quick points to hold serve easily.

First set: Alcaraz 1-0 Tu (Alcaraz to serve next). Tu starts shakily, getting broken at love right away. Alcaraz hits a sizzling forehand winner to lead 40-love, and Tu gives away the game with a forehand error at the net.

Some background on Li Tu: He began his ITF career in 2011 but retired in 2014 to focus on his degree and a coaching academy. After a six-year break, he returned to the sport in 2021 and has since won nine ITF titles and one Challenger title. Although Tu showed confidence in his pre-match interview, he faces a huge challenge against Alcaraz, who has won four of the last seven Grand Slams and has a record of 42 wins in 45 matches during that time.

The players are now on court and warming up. Ashe Stadium is about two-thirds full, but the long lines outside suggest it will be packed soon. The match should start in a few minutes.