Carlos Alcaraz began his quest to add the US Open title to his Roland Garros and Wimbledon victories with a solid performance, defeating 186th-ranked Australian Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. The 21-year-old Spaniard extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches, aiming to join legends Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal as the only men in the modern era to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year. Alcaraz started strong, taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, but Tu managed to find his rhythm and took the second set, showcasing his ability to compete on the big stage.

Despite the setback in the second set, Alcaraz regained control, breaking Tu's serve to take a 4-3 lead in the third set and then winning eight consecutive games to establish a commanding position in the fourth set. Although Tu fought back, saving two match points, Alcaraz ultimately closed out the match with a dominant service game. After the match, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly regarding his unforced errors, which spiked from just two in the first set to 18 in the second.

With this victory, Alcaraz reached his 60th Grand Slam singles win, achieving this milestone in just 70 matches, making him the second-fastest man to reach 60 major victories in the Open Era. He will face Botic van de Zandschulp, a 2021 quarter-finalist, in the second round, as he continues his pursuit of a second US Open title.