Winners are grinners: Li Tu makes dream debut in Wimbledon qualifying | 25 June, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Li Tu couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as we speak after recording a first-round win within the Wimbledon 2024 males’s qualifying singles competitors.

The 28-year-old from Adelaide, who’s competing on the prestigious Grand Slam occasion for the primary time, recorded a 6-3 7-6(5) victory in opposition to France’s Valentin Royer.

“I really feel nice. That is my first Wimbledon, so I’m feeling actually pumped,” Tu advised tennis.com.au.

“Not simply concerning the win, but additionally how I performed as we speak. I performed my model, got here ahead so much and hit a variety of volleys. I’m extra happy with that and the best way I used to be capable of execute my recreation.”

Though that is solely Tu’s tenth look in knowledgeable grass-court match, he feels “fairly snug” on the floor.

“Rising up, I performed so much on grass,” he defined. “In South Australia our Saturday morning comps have been on grass, so I do like it.

“I feel we’ve got an actual benefit as Australians on the grass courts, as we find yourself taking part in on it a good bit.”

At the moment’s breakthrough victory supplied one other thrilling chapter in Tu’s exceptional comeback story. He was operating a training enterprise in Adelaide previous to 2020, earlier than the COVID pandemic impressed him to pursue his skilled tennis desires once more.

“Actually, typically I’ve to pinch myself,” admitted Tu, who was a promising junior earlier than making schooling his precedence at age 18.

“As tennis gamers, we’re our personal worst critics. I haven’t been performing that nicely up to now three or 4 months, however typically I’ve to say to myself: ‘Look Li, you’ve solely been again taking part in for 3 or 4 years now and also you’re already right here at Wimbledon qualifying’.

“That’s a giant milestone for lots of people, so this week I’ve actually tried to vary my perspective and simply say ‘let’s simply scrap the previous few months and look ahead and provides it our greatest effort’.

“I’m simply actually joyful to get the win as we speak and hopefully can construct on that within the subsequent couple of days.”

The world No.202 is already excited for his subsequent problem, which is a second-round showdown with extremely rated French expertise Luca Van Assche. The 20-year-old is the sixth seed and rose as excessive as world No.63 final season.

“I’m simply actually having fun with it, loving each second of being out right here and simply making an attempt to take it in,” Tu mentioned.