Carlos Alcaraz's Triumphant US Open Start

Carlos Alcaraz extended his unbeaten streak to 15 Grand Slam matches with a first-round victory over Li Tu at the U.S. Open. If he wins this title, he will join legends Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal in capturing three major Grand Slam titles in a single year during the Open era.

Carlos Alcaraz extended his unbroken winning streak to 15 consecutive Grand Slam matches with a commanding 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Li Tu on Tuesday night in the first round of the U.S. Open.

The No. 3 seed from Spain had previously secured the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year, amassing four major championships in his career. Adding another U.S. Open title to his 2022 victory would position Alcaraz among the elite, joining Rod Laver (1969) and Rafael Nadal (2010) in winning these three Grand Slam titles within the same year during the Open era.

Alcaraz, who played only one match since his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Paris Olympics final, limited his practice sessions leading up to the U.S. Open due to a twisted right ankle. Despite these concerns, he showcased resilience and agility in the final two sets against the Australian qualifier, Li Tu, and advanced to face Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies.)