Australian player Li Tu has opened up about his experience of playing Carlos Alcaraz in the previous edition of the US Open. The Aussie admitted it was a surreal experience to take on the Spaniard in front of almost 30,000 people at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Alcaraz was given a scare by an Australian qualifier in the first round of the U.S. Open as the Spaniard registered a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory. The 28-year-old from Adelaide was able to take a set off Alcaraz and it must have given him a lot of confidence.
Meanwhile, Li Tu kicked off his 2025 campaign with a straight-set win against compatriot James Duckworth in the Adelaide International. However, the Australian suffered a 3-6, 3-6 loss against Benjamin Bonzi in the next round.
“I think before US Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 27,000 people, not a whole lot can prepare you for that because the most people I played in front of before that was maybe 3,000,” Li Tu said in post-match press conference. (via ASAP Text)
“Yeah, a lot of visualization, to be honest. But to be honest with you, nothing prepared me for that. It’s not until you actually do it and you live it. Then the next time, Okay, I know what it’s about,” Li Tu said.
The Australian, who turned pro in 2014, shared his overwhelming experience of playing against Carlos Alcaraz at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of a huge American crowd.
“I was ready for the music, I was ready for how loud it was going to be, I was ready for everything everyone told me. I was prepared. I had a session with my psychologist person. We were really prepared and did a lot of visualization the night before, the morning of,” Li Tu said.
“But I still walk out and I’m like, Whoa. It’s still so big (smiling). It’s not until you actually do it, yeah. That’s where experience comes into play, for sure,” he added.
