AAP Tennis

Aussie qualifier Li Tu ecstatic about playing Alcaraz

By AAP Newswire

Aug 27, 2024

Some might down tools in protest, but Australian qualifier Li Tu downed his knife and fork instead to celebrate being served up to grand slam glutton Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open first round.

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Late-blooming Tu is having the time of his life in New York.

He saved two match points in the final round of qualifying to make the main draw of a grand slam for only the second time, a decade after quitting tennis for six years to procure a commerce degree in Adelaide and then turning to coaching.

So why let news of a show-court date with the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion spoil dinner, Tu thought.

"So crazy," he said of how and when he learnt about facing Alcaraz under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday (9am Wednesday AEST).

"We were out at dinner with me, my coach, best mate, my wife Kimberly and we're all just celebrating (getting through qualifying).

"When we started dinner, there were still some qualifying matches going on so we're just having dinner, no worries.

"And then I got a text message on Instagram and a fan actually messaged me saying, 'Li, you're playing Carlos Alcaraz'.

"And I was like, 'No way'.

"Then I showed the message to everyone around the table, everyone gets their phone out, everyone put knives and forks down and, yeah, that's how I found out.

Four-time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz is the first-round opponent for Australia's Li Tu. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

"Then we saw the draw and it was like Carlos-Li and I was like 'OK, this is happening'."

Shocked and exited in equal measure, Tu said winning through to a grand slam main draw, especially one of such magnitude, after all he'd been through was more than a dream come true.

"It's incredible," he said.

"You work hard, you put your blood, sweat and tears into this sport for moments like this, and I'm just incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to do this.

"I was two match points down the last round of qualifying. I was joking with my team that I was literally one second serve from clearing the net by this much away from packing my bags and going home.

"But, instead, I'm preparing and figuring out a game plan to play one of the best in our sport, so (it's been) pretty crazy."

Tu is one of 13 Australians, led by men's 10th seed Alex de Minaur, in day-two action.

Playing his first competitive match since withdrawing from a Wimbledon quarter-final against Novak Djokovic, de Minaur faces American Marcus Giron in his comeback from a hip injury.

At least one Australian is certain to join day-one winners Alexei Popyrin, Rinky Hijikata, Ajla Tomljanovic and Maya Joint in the second round, with Aleksandar Vukic and Max Purcell clashing in an all-Sydney affair.

AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY TWO OF THE US OPEN IN NEW YORK:

Men's singles, first round

10-Alex de Minaur v Marcos Giron (USA)

Chris O'Connell v 26-Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

Aleksandar Vukic v Max Purcell

Thanasi Kokkinakis v 11-Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Tristan Schoolkate v Taro Daniel (JPN)

James Duckworth v 31-Flavio Cobolli (ITA)

Li Tu v 3-Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

Jordan Thompson v Constant Lestienne (FRA)

Women's singles, first round

Daria Saville v Ena Shibahara (JPN)