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Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 2-2 Tu* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz goes behind love-30 on his serve thanks to another unforced error followed by a double fault. The Spaniard is getting a wee bit casual: five unforced in the last two games after only three in the first 10. But he wins four quick points in succession to hold and remain on serve.
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Second set: *Alcaraz 6-2, 1-2 Tu (*denotes next server)
Lu has steadied the ship somewhat. He goes ahead 30-love thanks to a couple of unforced errors by the Alcaraz forehand, then mixes in a serve-and-volley winner that draws oohs from the crowd. Alcaraz scratches one point back but escapes with the hold after another misfired forehand by the Spaniard. Lu has won 12 of the last 14 points on his serve.
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Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 1-1 Tu* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz goes down love-15 on his serve with his third unforced error of the evening but rattles off four quick points to hold. He’s still only lost three points on his serve tonight.
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Second set: *Alcaraz 6-2, 0-1 Tu (*denotes next server)
Tu opens the second set with a straightforward hold of serve. He crunches his first ace of the night, a 116mph number out wide, and gets all of his first serves in excepting a double fault at 30-love.
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Updated at 00.54 BST
Alcaraz wins first set, 6-2!
First set: Alcaraz 6-2 Tu
Alcaraz flies through the tape with the hold at love and he’s taken the opening set in a brisk 29 minutes. The Spaniard isn’t serving at his customary level, getting only 50% of his first serves in. But he’s won 89% of his second-serve points, denying Tu any opportunity to capitalize.
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First set: *Alcaraz 5-2 Tu (*denotes next server)
Tu falls behind love-30 on his serve and Alcaraz is two points from the set. Alcaraz then donates an unforced error (only his second of the night) and Tu follows with a forehand volley winner after a nine-shot rally that prompts roars from the crowd. Tu then hits a forehand winner into the open court following a 116mph serve for game point, before threading a 95mph second-serve service winner down the middle for the gutsy hold. Alcaraz to serve for the opening set after the change of ends.
Australia’s Li Tu faces a tall order in his US Open main-draw debut. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/ReutersShare
Updated at 00.51 BST
First set: Alcaraz 5-1 Tu* (*denotes next server)
Love hold for Alcaraz. and another drama-free service game for Alcaraz, who’s won 12 of 14 points on his racket so far. Now Tu will serve to stay in the opening set.
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First set: *Alcaraz 4-1 Tu (*denotes next server)
Tu is on the board at last but not without a fight! Alcaraz, moving about the court with ease and showing no sign of the twisted ankle he suffered during training on Saturday, makes him work for every point. But he’s able to hold serve after a lob by Alcaraz misses the mark and the Ashe crowd offers up a hearty round of applause that brings a smile to Tu’s face.
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First set: Alcaraz 4-0 Tu* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz consolidates again, pounding a 110mph service winner, a 124mph ace out wide and capping it with a forehand winner from inside the baseline. Already seven winners for the Spaniard with just the one unforced error.
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Alcaraz breaks in third game of first set!
First set: *Alcaraz 3-0 Tu (*denotes next server)
It’s not getting any easier for Tu on his serve. He quickly goes triple break point down, mixing in his first double fault of the night. He’s fends off a pair of them with a couple of strong serves, but another misfired forehand from the baseline gives Alcaraz a double-break lead after 10 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz has come out firing in Tuesday’s first-round match against Li Tu. Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 00.50 BST
First set: Alcaraz 2-0 Tu* (*denotes next server)
Tu gets on the board with style, getting the better of Alcaraz over a 10-shot exchange before passing the Spaniard with a backhand winner. But Alcaraz responds with a 116mph ace down the middle before rattling off three quick points for the stress-free hold.
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Alcaraz breaks in first game of first set!
First set: *Alcaraz 1-0 Tu (*denotes next server)
A shaky start for the US Open debutant, who’s quickly broken at love to start the match. Alcaraz hits a sizzling forehand winner early in the point for 40-love before Tu donates the game with a forehand unforced error at the net.
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Some backstory for the Adelaide man Li Tu. He made his ITF debut in 2011. He retired in 2014 and was out of the sport for six years, earning his degree and founding a coaching academy during his time away. Since returning in 2021, he’s won nine ITF titles and one more at the Challenger level. He exuded confidence during his pre-match interview in the tunnel, but make no mistake: this one is as David v Goliath as it gets. Alcaraz has won four of the last seven majors staged, winning 42 of 45 matched over that span.
Carlos Alcaraz, top, and Li Tu meet at the net before their match. Photograph: Matt Rourke/APShare
Updated at 00.20 BST
The players are on court and going through their warm-ups. Ashe is about two-thirds empty at the moment but the teeming queues outside by the fountains suggest it will be filling up quickly. We should be under way in a couple of minutes.
Fans enter the stadium for the night session in Flushing Meadows. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/ReutersShare
Updated at 00.19 BST
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for tonight’s match between Carlos Alcaraz and Li Tu. We’re courtside inside the world’s largest tennis stadium as the French Open and Wimbledon champion launches his bid for a second US Open title against a 28-year-old Australian qualifier in search of his first man-draw win at a grand slam and first victory over an opponent ranked in the ATP’s top 50.
Alcaraz looks to extend a 14-match win streak at major tournaments and is looking to become the third man in the open era to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year after Rod Laver in 1969 and Rafael Nadal in 2010. He’ll go off as a healthy favorite against Li Tu, he of the shortest name in professional tennis, who first cracked the top 200 in march and reached a career-high ranking of No 186 shortly after winning the M25 Traralgon title on home soil.
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Before we get started … Dan Evans has just toppled Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history. The 34-year-old Briton rallied from 0-4 down in the fifth set to win 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 after 5hr 35min (!). That eclipses the previous mark held by the famous 1992 semi-final between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang, which took 5hr 27min to complete.
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Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at what’s happening as the day session gives way to night in Queens.
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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2024/aug/27/carlos-alcaraz-v-li-tu-us-open-2024-first-round-live
