Alex de Minaur kicked off the Australian proceedings with a win on day three of the US Open, leading the way on what resulted in a solid day for the Aussies in New York.
[18] Alex de Minaur (AUS) def Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Alex de Minaur survived a mid-match form slump to claim revenge over Cristian Garin, advancing to the third round of the US Open.
In a rematch of the Wimbledon round of 16 encounter in which Garin came from two-sets-to-love down and saved match points, de Minaur was not going to let that happen again and came out swinging.
The Aussie blazed away to a two-sets-to-love lead in what felt like no time, and then moved 4-2 ahead in the third set, before Garin capitalised on a poor service game from the Aussie, stole the momentum and forced a fourth set.
In a display of mental resilience, de Minaur went straight back to work and claimed the fourth set with ease to put the match to bed, booking his place in the third round.
"At the end of the third, the level got very scrappy," de Minaur recalled in his post-match press conference.
"It started to get quite windy out there. All of a sudden, the level of the tennis dropped and it was a bit of a scrap fest and I think he handled it better. I lost my serve a bit in the key moments."
"I was able to really lock in, in the fourth set and go back to what was working for me."
"Five-set matches are long matches and you have to win three sets. I'm trying to make those three sets you have to win against me, the hardest sets you'll ever win. That's my mindset at the moment," de Minaur said.
de Minaur will face two-time US Open semi-finalist and No. 12 seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round, in what promises to be a cracking affair.
[23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) def Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 7-6(3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Nick Kyrgios has continued his winning ways at Grand Slam level, with a hard-fought victory over rising Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Kyrgios admittedly underestimated his 26-year-old opponent, with Bonzi having enjoyed a strong year and entering the match in career-best form.
“I was literally hanging by a thread. [Bonzi’s] level today was incredible,” Kyrgios said in his on-court interview.
“Honestly, I was not expecting an absolute war. That one could have gone either way.”
The Australian initially took the first set in a tiebreak, rallying from a minibreak down on the back of some incredible shot making.
An even tighter second set saw Kyrgios capitalise on a slight lapse from Bonzi at 5-4, to take a two sets to love lead.
The Frenchman was not going to die wondering, taking the third set and giving himself serious opportunities to force a fifth.
However – as he has all season – Kyrgios found a way to hold serve from 0-40 before breaking the Bonzi serve, to move into the US Open 3rd round.
“I played some really risky tennis late in that fourth set, so I’m just really happy to get through,” Kyrgios said.
“It’s been a really stressful time. My team and I have high expectations to go deep this week, so I’m just glad I got through.”
Kyrgios spoke further regarding the pressure of entering events as the reigning Wimbledon finalist.
“It’s made life more stressful. Every tournament I play now, I’m expected to play amazing tennis every time.”
“In comparison to last year, I’m playing with so much more confidence, and I’m playing some of the best tennis of my life.”
Kyrgios will now face American wildcard J.J Wolf in the round of 32 – a match that will likely be played under Friday night lights in New York (Saturday morning in Australia).
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) def Evgeniya Rodina 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
Ajla Tomljanovic kept Australia's hopes in the women's singles draw alive, completing a monstrous comeback to take down Russia's Evgeniya Rodina in a three-set nail biter.
Tomljanovic fell behind early, losing the first set in what felt like no time, but managed to strike back, taking the second set with ease to level the match.
With a meeting with Serena Williams on the line, the Australian fought from a break down three times in the deciding set and broke Rodina when she served for the match to reel off the final four games of the match and claim an incredible comeback victory.
Tomljanovic will now face the retiring Serena Williams in the third round. It will be the pairs first ever meeting.
"I just remember watching her in Wimbledon finals with my sister and it's a little sureal to me that I made it and played in the same era as her," Tomljanovic said in her post-match press conference.
"I was quite sad before this tournament that I had never faced her so far and there could be a chance that I never play her before she retires."
"I dont look at the draw so I wasn't sure where she was but I did have a moment before the tournament started, I was in my bed and I thought about playing her here on Arthur Ashe before the draw came out. I'm glad it's now in a third round."
Jason Kubler (AUS) def Mikael Ymer (SWE) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Australia's Jason Kubler continued his remarkable 2022 season with another major main draw win - this time to advance to the second round of the US Open.
Kubler's match was abandoned on day two with the Aussie leading two-sets-to-one as rain started to pour down in New York. In a sign of maturity and composure, Kubler came out on day three and finished the job in quick fashion, setting up a second round meeting with American 22nd seed Frances Tiafoe.
The Australian is still getting used to playing at the big events as he continues to make his dreams a reality.
"When I'm walking in, I don't even know where the courts are. I'm still looking at the back of my accreditation just to see where it is," Kubler said in his post-match press conference."
"It's almost not real life. Things have been going quite well for me where like in the past, to get to the level where I'm playing at at the moment, has been kinda tough. Especially for me to be 29 now doing it, it's pretty cool," Kubler said.
[Q] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) def Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Aussie Jordan Thompson has suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Columbia’s Daniel Galan, in the second round of the US Open.
Thompson, who came from two sets to love down to win his opening round match on Monday, was on the opposite end of a five-set comeback this time around.
The 28-year-old was in control of the match, taking the second and third sets and appearing poised to enjoy a second consecutive comeback.
However, on the back of a boisterous crowd – in full support of the Columbian – Galan was able to rally his way to a decider, eventually taking it 6-3.
Thompson will be left ruing his missed chances, especially the two break point opportunities he held at 4-4 in the fourth set.
And while the match itself had many highlights, a fiery altercation at the net during the fourth set between Thompson and Galan, may lead the headlines.
The Australian, who has recently fallen outside the ATP top 100 for the first time since 2018, has jumped back to world number 100 (live ranking) after his first-round victory.
[10] Ellen Perez (AUS) / Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) def Claire Liu (USA) / Madison Brengle (USA) 6-4, 6-0
Ellen Perez and Nicole Melichar-Martinez continued their tremendous form by advancing to the second round of the US Open with a comprehensive straight-sets victory.
Coming off a title last week in the US, and back-to-back finals in the weeks prior, the pair have now won 13 of their last 15 matches - asserting themselves as one of the best doubles teams in the world.
They will come up against another all-American duo in the second round when they face Reese Brantmeier and Clervie Ngounoue.
Luke Saville (AUS) / Aslan Karatsev def Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Sander Gille (BEL) 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-2
Luke Saville and Aslan Karatsev rallied from a set down and saved a match point to claim an impressive victory in the opening round in New York, sealed with a trademark backhand down the line by Saville.
The pair will face No. 1 seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the second round.
John Peers (AUS) / Alexei Popyrin (AUS) def by [3] Marcelo Arevalo (ESV) / Jean-Julien Roger (NED) 3-6, 6-7(2)
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