Li Tu, before facing Alcaraz: "I just hope my mother feels proud"

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Li Tu will be the next opponent of Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, an almost unknown player but with a remarkable story of overcoming challenges worth remembering. Some time ago, we detailed his story, a story where courage and his mother play the leading roles. The 28-year-old Australian managed to qualify to play his second Grand Slam main draw after receiving a wildcard invitation from the Australian Open in 2021.

He will now face one of the top players in the world, an endeavor he will tackle with the support of his family and his mother, who will be watching over him from heaven. The Australian decided to leave tennis for 6 years, pursue a career as an economist, and establish a tennis academy in his country. He coached young talents who inspired him to return to competition, starting with Futures tournaments and later the Challenger circuit, achieving remarkable results and climbing up the rankings rapidly.

"I have no regrets and I believe that, at that time, everything happened as it should. Looking back, I think the expectations were too much for me. I was quite exhausted. Coaching the juniors benefited me a lot. Having a perspective from the sidelines really helped me to return, and gaining that additional perspective made me understand things from a completely different level. So, I learned a lot watching the sport from the sidelines, coaching, and supporting people on their journey," Tu said to ATP.

However, Tu paused his career for two months to focus on his mother and spend time with her, as she had been battling cancer for two years. After her passing, the Australian returned to competition with the aim of rediscovering happiness in playing tennis and making his mother proud wherever she may be: "She is still with me. I truly believe that and it's all I want, for my parents to be proud. I know they will be no matter what I do," Tu shared with the ATP. "It was a very tough time for my family, and we still haven't overcome it. We all miss her every day. Whenever we talk about her, tears come to our eyes. She was one of the best people," Tu expressed.

Challenging 'Alcaraz'

Since then, Tu has kept his promise and achieved his goal of resuming his career, currently reaching his highest ranking of 186th in the world. His ultimate aim, though, will be standing up against the world number 3 and the 2022 US Open champion. "It's incredible. It's just me out there on the court, but sometimes I forget that in tennis there's a family behind me or what tennis means to a lot more people. When I qualified, many people shared and commented on it. I forget that many people are involved, and I believe I can play against one of the best players in the world on a stage like Arthur Ashe, the largest tennis court in the world, with my mother watching me; that will stay with me forever. I just hope to put on a good performance and make my parents proud, especially her," Tu stated.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Li Tu, antes de enfrentarse a Alcaraz: "Solo espero que mi madre se sienta orgullosa"