Carlos Alcaraz tries to recover his world title n ° 1. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SPORTS)
(USA Today Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters)
His first opponent was more feist than expected, but Carlos Alcaraz is offbeat and short at the US Open.
The world No. 3 beat the Australian qualifier Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. He will face Botic Van de Zandschulp in the second round Thursday, after the Dutch Dispatch from Denis Shapovalov Tuesday.
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Alcaraz seemed to be on the right track for a standard eruption of the first round, but you then showed a shape for which the Spaniard was not exactly ready. You promised that he would try to give Alcaraz “Three, four, five hellish sets“Before the match and found this form in the second set.
You stayed in service against Alcaraz for part of the third set, but the disparity of the talents was ultimately too much to overcome. You are the first opening opponent to take an Alcaraz decor in a large home since 2022 Wimbledon. Alcaraz did not help his cause with 18 uncomposed mistakes overall.
You stayed in service against Alcaraz for a part of the third set, but all it took is that Alcaraz found his feet to transform a potential upheaval into a laugh. He has won the next nine games to stifle the threat.
Alcaraz is in competition to win his third large consecutive chelem after taking the French open and Wimbledon earlier this year. Another title of this year would also be the fifth slam in the 21-year-old career and a return to the New York summit after losing Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals last year.
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The draw in Alcaraz against Medvedev or Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, except a major upheaval, Novak Djokovic waiting on the other side of the support. The three potential opponents represent intriguing clashes: Medvedev for a revenge match last year, a sinner as a new world n ° 1 and the only other man to win a slam this year, Djokovic for a revenge match of Alcaraz's defeat in the Olympic gold medal match earlier this month.
But first, Alcaraz must get there, just like the rest. Djokovic Cruise predictable in the first round Monday, while Medvedev and Sinner both abandoned sets against opponents not rescued on Tuesday.
The sinner in particular entered the tournament under a cloud of controversy after Test positive twice for an anabolic steroid prohibits earlier this year and avoid suspension. This could have been the cause of a slow start against Mackenzie McDonald in a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory.
