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Australian tennis pro Li Tu’s run at the U.S. Open may have ended, but many fans still think he made a strong impression.
The 28-year-old went viral on social media this week, earning the admiration of tennis enthusiasts despite his first-round loss on Tuesday to third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz. Making his U.S. Open debut, Tu received praise for his candidness and sense of humor during the high-stakes match, even when interacting with his opponent.
In a post-match interview with ESPN, Tu openly shared his thoughts on seeing Alcaraz, a top-tier player, for the first time on the court.
“We go to the coin toss, and he took his jacket off. And I was like, ‘Dude, this guy’s a specimen,’” Tu told ESPN, laughing. “I just couldn’t stop looking at his shoulder definition and the veins. And the forehand says it. I mean, he’s got some serious, serious weaponry.”
Australian coach and former pro Rennae Stubbs quickly declared Tu the best interview of the tournament.
Ranked 186th, Tu managed to win one set in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Alcaraz, putting up a commendable fight against the four-time Grand Slam champion. However, it was Tu’s genuine moments during the match that endeared him to fans. He chuckled after missing an underhand serve, with fans appreciating his ability to laugh off the mistake instead of reacting with frustration.
In another interview, Tu shared the unexpected way he learned about his match against Alcaraz.
“I got a random message on Instagram from a fan who’s been watching all my matches, saying, and I quote, ‘Li, your opponent is Carlos Alcaraz,’” he told Sky Sports Tennis. “And I just read it, and I was like, ‘No way.’”
While Tu’s humor has won over many, his backstory adds a bittersweet note. Born in Adelaide to Chinese immigrants, Tu began playing tennis as a child. He shared with ATPTour.com that while his father was sometimes demanding, his mother, Yu Ping Zheng, simply wanted him to enjoy himself.
“My mom just wanted me to be happy. She would honestly ask, ‘Are you sure you want to play tennis? It’s really hot out there, it’s a lot of hard work, you don’t have to play if you don’t want to,’” Tu told ATP Tour. “As long as I was happy, she really didn’t care if I did well or not.”
