Li Tu in awe of Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘specimen’ physique as the Spaniard opts for sleeveless outfit at the US Open

Australia's Li Tu praised Carlos Alcaraz's physique after losing to him in the first round of the 2024 US Open.

Li Tu in awe of Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘specimen’ physique as the Spaniard opts for sleeveless outfit at the US Open

Li Tu, Carlos Alcaraz (Images via X)

Li Tu was amazed by Carlos Alcaraz‘s physique when he played the Spaniard in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The unseeded Australian took a set from Alcaraz but the latter quickly finished the match, winning with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. 

It was Tu’s first match against a Top 50. After the match, the 28-year-old revealed he was shocked to see how well-built the 21-year-old Spaniard is and humorously recounted meeting Alcaraz for the first time on the ATP Tour. 

YouTube video
I'm not going to lie, when I saw him come out in his jacket, I thought, 'Okay'. Then we went for the coin toss, he took off his jacket, and I thought, 'This guy is a specimen!' What I thought was that he was a beast, I couldn't stop looking at the definition of his shoulder and all his veins.
Li Tu told ESPN

Alcaraz will next lock horns with Botic van de Zandschulp. They have met two times before, in the 2021 Australian Open and 2022 Swiss Indoors with Alcaraz winning both times in straight sets. 

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Carlos Alcaraz wants to instill fear in his opponents with sleeveless style 

Carlos Alcaraz opted to wear sleeveless shirts for his US Open matches. When Nick Kyrgios interviewed him after the match against Li Tu and complimented his looks by calling his arms “sensational,” Alcaraz joked he loves to play with sleeveless shirts as it instills fear in his opponents. 

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X) 
I love playing with singlets as well. In some tournaments – specific tournaments, I want to play with singlet probably just to make fear to the opponents, or I try.
Carlos Alcaraz said after the match

The main reason, however, was the weather in New York, which was hot and humid. While the youngster is the favorite to win the US Open, having lifted his first in 2022, Kyrgios, who is still recovering from multiple injuries, is doing media duties for ESPN. 

Alcaraz has won three titles on the ATP Tour this year, including a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. If he wins the US Open, he will become the third man to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year, after Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal.

At the French Open this year, Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev to become the champion there for the first time. Following the Roland Garros, Alcaraz defended his title at Wimbledon by beating seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.

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