New York: Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant entrance into the second round of the US Open 2024, having recalibrated his strategy against Australia's Li Tu in the initial match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The young Spaniard extended his record of major match victories to 15 with a decisive 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory. This triumph places Alcaraz on the path to becoming the third player in the Open Era to secure victories at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open within the same calendar year.
The US Open 2022 champion swiftly advanced to a 6-2 victory, setting the stage for a swift conclusion to the opening round.
However, the dynamics of the game shifted dramatically in the second set, with Alcaraz succumbing to three consecutive losses. The score was tied at 4-5, and Alcaraz experienced a surprising 10-minute tiebreak loss to Li Tu.
Alcaraz responded by escalating the intensity of the match, amassing 18 unforced errors in the second set. He capitalized on his strong forehand game to control the pace from the baseline.
He adeptly transitioned between forehand and backhand shots to entice Li Tu into committing unforced errors.
Alcaraz maintained the momentum he had built in a match that stretched over 2 hours and 42 minutes, culminating in an impressive display that led to his 60th match victory at the Grand Slam level.
"First and foremost, I am incredibly pleased to have advanced and am looking forward to improving in the upcoming rounds. I felt confident and well-prepared. I believe I executed my shots effectively and moved well on the court. There are areas I need to work on to progress further in the tournament, but I must also acknowledge Li Tu's exceptional play and the element of surprise he introduced in the second set. I am content with my performance and am eager to see how I fare in the next stages," Alcaraz stated during his post-match press conference, as reported by ATP.com.
Reflecting on his performance in the second set, Alcaraz noted, "In the first set, I only committed two unforced errors. In the second set, that number increased to 18, a significant difference in my game."
