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Li Tu

{{Short description|Australian tennis player (born 1996)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use Australian English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox tennis biography

|name = Li Tu

|image = Tu RGQ23 (52942973432).jpg

|caption = Tu at the 2023 French Open

|fullname =

|country = {{AUS}}

|residence = Adelaide, Australia

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|05|27}}

|birth_place = Adelaide, Australia

|height = 1.83m (6ft)

|turnedpro = 2021

|retired =

|plays = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)

|coach = David Macpherson

|careerprizemoney = US $733,476

|singlesrecord = {{tennis record|won=2|lost=12|details=in ATP Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup}}

|singlestitles = 0

|highestsinglesranking = No. 164 (21 April 2025)

|currentsinglesranking = No. 168 (5 May 2025)

|AustralianOpenresult = 1R (2021, 2025)

|FrenchOpenresult = Q2 (2024)

|Wimbledonresult = Q2 (2024)

|USOpenresult = 1R (2024)

|doublesrecord = {{tennis record|won=4|lost=4}}

|doublestitles = 0

|highestdoublesranking = No. 189 (27 January 2025)

|currentdoublesranking = No. 219 (5 May 2025)

|AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 3R (2022, 2025)

|updated = 5 May 2025

}}

Li Tu (born 27 May 1996) is an Australian tennis player. Tu has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 164, achieved on 21 April 2025 and a doubles ranking of No. 189, achieved on 27 January 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atptour.com/en/players/li-tu/tc01/overview|title=Li Tu | Overview | ATP Tour | Tennis|website=ATP Tour}}

Career

=2011–2014: Pro debut and retirement=

Tu made his ITF Futures debut in February 2011 at the Australia F2. He played four other tournaments, losing in the first round in all of them.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Tu competed in the 2012 Junior Davis Cup alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, later working as a tennis coach prior to his debut on the senior tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/if-i-play-my-best-i-can-beat-half-the-draw-unranked-wildcard-li-tu-ready-to-turn-heads-20210205-p56zz5.html|title = "If I play my best I can beat half the draw" Unranked wildcard Li Tu ready to turn heads|date = 6 February 2021|publisher=The Age}}

In February 2014, he won his first match on ITF-level. In April 2014, Tu reached the quarterfinal of the Australia F5, his best result this level, but retired in June 2014.

=2020–2021: Return, ATP and major debut, four ITF titles=

In 2020, Tu was inspired to return to playing tennis and enjoyed success on the Australian UTR Pro Tennis Series.

Tu made his ATP Tour debut at the 2021 Murray River Open from where he received a wildcard into the singles main draw.{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/tenis/2021/02/01/mas_tenis/1612167741_619730.html|title=Albert Ramos sigue adelante en el Murray River Open|website=as.com|date=February 2021}}

Tu also made his Grand Slam debut at the 2021 Australian Open, after receiving a wildcard. He lost in the first round to Feliciano López.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2021/02/09/de-minaur-delivers-in-australian-open-first-round|title=De Minaur delivers|website=Tennis Australia|date=9 February 2021|access-date=20 September 2021}}

In August 2021, Tu won his first ITF title as an unranked qualifier at a M15 tournament in Tunisia. He was competing in his first international event since June 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2021/08/30/ranking-movers-young-aussies-on-the-rise|title=Ranking Movers|website=Tennis Australia|date=30 August 2021|access-date=30 August 2021|author=Rogers, Leigh}}

In September 2021, Tu won the singles and doubles titles at a tournament in Monastir, Tunisia.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2021/09/20/ranking-movers-aussies-continue-to-climb|title=Ranking Movers|website=Tennis Australia|date=20 September 2021|access-date=20 September 2021|author=Rogers, Leigh}}

Tu ended the 2021 season with an ATP ranking of No. 521.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=2022: Maiden Challenger title, top 200 debut=

Tu lost in the first round of the 2022 Australian Open – Men's singles qualifying.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2022/01/12/aussie-men-exit-australian-open-qualifying|title=Aussie Men Exit Australian Open Qualifying|website=Tennis Australia|date=12 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}} He made his Grand Slam tournament debut in doubles and reached the third round, after receiving a wildcard with Dane Sweeny.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In May, he scooped an ITF title in Cairo and finished runner-up at another ITF event at Monastir,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/tennis/news/%E2%80%98unbelievable%E2%80%99-australian-open-chance-triumph-egypt-li-tu-reaping-rewards-six-year-break/uivtr9pnsxdwrar6rhaufth5|title=From 'unbelievable' Australian Open chance to triumph in Egypt: Li Tu reaping rewards of six-year break from tennis|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=5 May 2022 |accessdate=28 March 2023}} winning 11 of his past 12 matches. He raised 55 places to a new career-high of world No. 342 on 9 May 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2022/05/09/ranking-movers-li-tu-climbs-to-new-career-high | title=Ranking movers: Li Tu climbs to new career-high|publisher=tennis.com}}

In July, Tu made his debut on the ATP Challenger Tour in Rome, Georgia, where he lost to Yasutaka Uchiyama. The following week in Indianapolis, as an alternate, he won his first Challenger match against Michail Pervolarakis, but lost to Dominik Koepfer in the second round. He then made his first Challenger quarterfinal in Winnipeg, defeating seventh seed Gijs Brouwer in the second round, before losing to Enzo Couacaud. {{citation needed|date=October 2022}} As a result he reached world No. 252 on 1 August 2022.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In October, Tu made his first Challenger semifinal in Seoul, after qualifying by beating Cho Se-hyuk and Mukund Sasikumar. In the main draw, he beat Kaichi Uchida, fellow qualifier Naoki Nakagawa and the fifth seed, compatriot Christopher O'Connell. He defeated the sixth seed, compatriot James Duckworth, in the semifinals to reach his first Challenger final where he defeated Wu Yibing in straight sets.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=Australian tennis player Li Tu wins emotional first ATP Challenger title |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/tennis/news/australian-tennis-player-li-tu-wins-emotional-first-atp-challenger-title/quqbixnnyyhp1paqyaw0hzkk |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-gb}} As a result, he moved more than 100 positions up in the rankings, at world No. 190 on 17 October 2022.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=2023: First ATP Tour win=

In Newport, after qualifying for the main draw, Tu won his first match at ATP Tour level by beating Aleksandar Vukic in straight sets. This was also his first match win against a top 100 player.{{Cite web |title=Li Tu records milestone victory in all-Australian battle at Newport |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2023/07/18/li-tu-records-milestone-victory-in-all-australian-battle-at-newport |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Tennis Australia |language=en-AU}}

He entered the Mallorca Championships, also as qualifier, but lost his first-round match against lucky loser Pavel Kotov.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/mallorca-open-kotov-into-second-round-690804.html|title=Mallorca Open: Kotov knocks out qualifier Li Tu to make second round|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}}

He also entered the main draw at the Chengdu Open as a lucky loser and lost in the first round to Arthur Rinderknech.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/chengdu-open-rinderknech-books-spot-in-second-round-715681.html|title=Chengdu Open: Rinderknech books spot in second round|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}}

=2024: US Open debut=

He qualified for his home tournament, the Brisbane International.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

He again qualified for the Hall of Fame Open, losing to Eliot Spizzirri in the first round.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/hall-of-fame-open-spizzirri-advances-to-second-round-774168.html|title=Hall of Fame Open: Spizzirri sees off Tu for second round berth|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}} He also qualified for the main draw of the US Open making his debut at this major.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/08/23/a-record-breaking-six-australians-qualify-at-us-open-2024|title=A record-breaking six Australians qualify at US Open 2024|date=22 August 2024}} In the first round, he lost to third seed Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/li-tu-carlos-alcaraz-us-open-tennis-viral-online-rcna168658|title=How Aussie tennis pro Li Tu lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the U.S. Open but won over fans online|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=13 January 2025}}

=2025: Adelaide International second round=

As a wildcard entrant, Tu defeated James Duckworth to reach the second round at the Adelaide International,{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/adelaide-open-tu-moves-into-second-round-802403.html|title=Adelaide Open: Tu moves into second round|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}} where he lost to Benjamin Bonzi.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/atp-adelaide-qualifier-bonzi-reaches-quarter-finals-802632.html|title=ATP Adelaide: Qualifier Bonzi reaches quarter-finals|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}} Again given entry to the main draw as a wildcard at the Australian Open, he lost to 24th seed Jiří Lehečka in the first round.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennismajors.com/australian-open-news/australian-open-lehecka-comes-through-tu-test-to-make-second-round-803311.html|title=Australian Open: Lehecka comes through Tu test to make second round|publisher=Tennis Majors|accessdate=13 January 2025}}

Performance timelines

{{Performance key}}

class=wikitable style=text-align:center;
Tournament

!2021

!2022

!2023

!2024

!2025

!SR

!W–L

colspan=9 align="left" |Grand Slam tournaments
align=left|Australian Open

|style=background:#afeeee|1R

|Q1

|Q2

|Q1

|style=background:#afeeee|1R

|0 / 2

|0–2

align=left|French Open

|A

|A

|Q1

|Q2

|Q1

|0 / 0

|0–0

align=left|Wimbledon

|A

|A

|A

|Q2

|

|0 / 0

|0–0

align=left|US Open

|A

|A

|A

|style=background:#afeeee|1R

|

|0 / 1

|0–1

style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef

|style=text-align:left|Win–loss

|0–1

|0–0

|0–0

|0–1

|0–1

|0 / 3

|0–3

colspan="9" align="left"|ATP Tour Masters 1000
Shanghai Masters

|colspan=2 style=color:#767676|NH

|Q2

|style=background:#afeeee|1R

|

|0 / 1

|0–1

Win–loss

|0–1

|0–0

|0–0

|0–1

|0–0

|0 / 1

|0–1

Personal life

Tu was born in Adelaide to Chinese immigrant parents. His mother, Yu Ping Zheng, died in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-21/li-tu-challenger-tour-breakthrough-comes-after-mothers-death/101558052|title=Rising Australian tennis player Li Tu's emotional Challenger Tour breakthrough comes weeks after mother's death|publisher=ABC News|last=Huntsdale|first=Duncan|date=21 October 2022|access-date=1 August 2024}}

ATP Challenger Tour finals

=Singles: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)=

valign=top

|

{|class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Legend

style="background:moccasin;"

|ATP Challenger Tour (1–2)

|

|}

class="sortable wikitable"

!Result

!class="unsortable"|W–L

!{{ns}}Date{{ns}}

!Tournament

!Tier

!Surface

!Opponent

!class="unsortable"|Score

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|1–0

|2022 Seoul Open Challenger – Singles

|style="background:moccasin;"|Seoul Open, South Korea

|style="background:moccasin;"|Challenger

|Hard

|{{flagicon|CHN}} Wu Yibing

|7–6(7–5), 6–4

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|1–1

|2024 Lexington Challenger – Men's singles

|style="background:moccasin;"|Lexington Challenger, USA

|style="background:moccasin;"|Challenger

|Hard

|{{flagicon|BRA}} João Fonseca

|1–6, 4–6

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|1–2

|Nov 2024

|style="background:moccasin;"|Keio Challenger, Japan

|style="background:moccasin;"|Challenger

|Hard

|{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuta Shimizu

|7–6(7–4), 4–6, 2–6

=Doubles: 1 (1 title)=

valign=top

|

{|class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Legend

style="background:moccasin;"

|ATP Challenger Tour (1–0)

|

|}

class="wikitable"

!Result

!class="unsortable"|W–L

!{{ns}}Date{{ns}}

!Tournament

!Tier

!Surface

!Partner

!Opponents

!class="unsortable"|Score

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|1–0

|2024 Chicago Men's Challenger – Doubles

|style="background:moccasin;"|Chicago Men's Challenger, USA

|style="background:moccasin;"|Challenger

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Luke Saville

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mac Kiger
{{flagicon|CAN}} Benjamin Sigouin

|6–4, 3–6, [10–3]

ITF World Tennis Tour finals

=Singles: 13 (9 titles, 4 runner-ups)=

valign=top

|

{|class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Legend

style="background:#cffcff;"

|ITF WTT (9–4)

|

class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Finals by surface

Hard (8–4)
Clay (1–0)

|}

class="sortable wikitable nowrap"

!Result

!class="unsortable"|W–L

!{{ns}}Date{{ns}}

!Tournament

!Tier

!Surface

!Opponent

!class="unsortable"|Score

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|1–0

|{{dts|Aug 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|ARG}} Mateo Nicolás Martínez

|6–1, 6–1

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|2–0

|{{dts|Sep 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Gabriel Décamps

|6–2, 6–1

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|3–0

|{{dts|Sep 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|JPN}} Ryota Tanuma

|3–6, 6–1, 6–2

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|4–0

|{{dts|Nov 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Saint-Dizier, France

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard (i)

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Dane Sweeny

|1–6, 6–1, 6–4

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|5–0

|{{dts|Feb 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Bendigo, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Andrew Harris

|6–3, 6–1

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|6–0

|{{dts|May 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Cairo, Egypt

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Clay

|{{flagicon|NMI}} Colin Sinclair

|6–4, 3–6, 6–4

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|6–1

|{{dts|May 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|TUN}} Skander Mansouri

|4–6, 2–6

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|7–1

|{{dts|May 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|TUN}} Skander Mansouri

|6–7(3–7), 6–4, 7–6(7–4)

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|7–2

|{{dts|Jul 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Waco, Texas, USA

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Adam Walton

|5–7, 6–0, 1–6

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|8–2

|{{dts|Apr 2023}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|POR}} Daniel Rodrigues

|3–6, 6–4, 6–4

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|8–3

|{{dts|Apr 2023}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|POR}} Duarte Vale

|3–6, 0–3, ret.

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|8–4

|{{dts|Feb 2024}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Traralgon, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Omar Jasika

|6–7(1–7), 2–6

bgcolor=98FB98|Win

|9–4

|{{dts|Mar 2024}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Traralgon, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Alex Bolt

|6–4, 6–2

=Doubles: 5 (4 titles, 1 runner-up)=

valign=top

|

{|class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Legend

style="background:#cffcff;"

|ITF WTT (4–1)

|

class="wikitable" style=font-size:97%

!Finals by surface

Hard (3–1)
Clay (1–0)

|}

class="sortable wikitable"

!Result

!class="unsortable"|W–L

!{{ns}}Date{{ns}}

!Tournament

!Tier

!Surface

!Partner

!Opponents

!class="unsortable"|Score

bgcolor=98FB98|Win

|1–0

|{{dts|Aug 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Jeremy Beale

|{{flagicon|DEN}} August Holmgren
{{flagicon|DEN}} Johannes Ingildsen

|6–4, 6–2

bgcolor=98FB98|Win

|2–0

|{{dts|Sep 2021}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M15 Monastir, Tunisia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ajeet Rai

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Martin Breysach
{{flagicon|FRA}} Lilian Marmousez

|6–0, 6–4

bgcolor=98FB98|Win

|3–0

|{{dts|Feb 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Canberra, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Dane Sweeny

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Jayden Court
{{flagicon|AUS}} David Hough

|6–3, 7–5

bgcolor=FFA07A|Loss

|3–1

|{{dts|Mar 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Bendigo, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Hard

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Dane Sweeny

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Akira Santillan
{{flagicon|AUS}} Philip Sekulic

|5–7, 7–6, [7–10]

bgcolor=98fb98|Win

|4–1

|{{dts|Mar 2022}}

|style="background:#cffcff;"|M25 Canberra, Australia

|style="background:#cffcff;"|WTT

|Clay

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Dane Sweeny

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Matthew Romios
{{flagicon|UKR}} Eric Vanshelboim

|7–6, 3–6, [10–7]

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{ATP|tc01}}
  • {{ITF|li-tu/800158763/aus}}
  • [https://www.tennis.com.au/player-profiles/li-tu Li Tu] at Tennis Australia
  • [https://app.universaltennis.com/profiles/3028571 Li Tu] at Universal Tennis

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tu, Li}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian male tennis players

Category:Australian people of Chinese descent

Category:Tennis players from Adelaide

Category:Sportsmen from South Australia

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen