Alcaraz moves past Li Tu in four sets to reach next round

Carlos Alcaraz who is aiming to become the third man in the Open Era to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year began his campaign with a win on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old extended his major match-winning streak to 15 after a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win against the World No. 186 qualifier and Australian Li Tu at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz on the possibility of becoming the 3rd man in history to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon, & US Open in the same year after Rod Laver (1969) and Rafael Nadal (2010).

“Well after this interview I’m gonna clear my mind and try to pretend I never heard that obviously it would be a great achievement if I make it,” Alcaraz said while on court interview.

“But I have 6 matches ahead. Every round is against a better opponent. It’s gonna be difficult. The slam is 2 weeks. Staying 100% focused every day makes it really tough. So I’m trying to think every day to just try to feel better each day in practice and in matches. Let’s see if I’m still alive in 2 weeks”

Up next for Alcaraz is 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. The Dutchman won 61 per cent of his second-serve return points and committed 33 unforced errors, compared to the Canadian’s 52.