'LET'S F***ING GO!' Four Aussies prevail at the US Open as Schoolkate overturns last year's heartbreak

(Getty/Matthew Stockman)

Four out of a possible six Australians advanced on Day 3 at the US Open, as the first round of singles action concluded.

An all-Aussie battle between Christopher O'Connell and last year's quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur meant one countryman was certain to exit. Still, it was 'Demon' who ensured a routine 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

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Winning 81 per cent of points behind his first serve, de Minaur didn't concede a break point opportunity to his opponent in what was a scintillating display on Grandstand.

"It's good to get the ball rolling," said de Minaur, who next faces Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki. "By no means did I expect perfect tennis, and I'm happy to get through.

"It was a difficult match against a fellow teammate... first time we've played each other, so it was good to get the win in straight sets."

On the same court last year, Tristan Schoolkate was dealt a brutal lesson in the second round against the talented Jakub Menšík, despite holding a two-set lead.

The same storyline seemed destined to repeat itself 12 months later, as world No.46 and Australian Open quarter-finalist Lorenzo Sonego dropped a combined two games in sets three and four, forcing the contest into a 10-point tiebreak in the fifth.

As Sonego's return flew out whilst trailing 6-9 to push Schoolkate across the line, the 24-year-old from Perth released a passionate roar of emotion towards his team, screaming the words, "Let's f***ing go!"

"[The 2024 US Open defeat] was a tough one to swallow," said Schoolkate, who also failed to convert a match point at 6-5 before the fifth set tiebreak. "And it was almost another tough one to swallow, but that's sport, and that's why I love doing what I'm doing. It's what you play tennis for, so it's pretty cool."

Schoolkate will bid to qualify for his maiden third round appearance at a Grand Slam main draw against the unpredictable Alexander Bublik.

But the Aussie, who received a wildcard for both the 2024 and 2025 US Open, is aware that he can't afford to drop his level as he did in sets three and four against Sonego.

"I lost the [third and fourth sets] pretty badly. He was a lot better than me," Schoolkate confessed.

"I think I just lost a bit of rhythm on my serve, which then gave him plenty of second serves... My level dropped, and if you play anyone at this level in the draw, and you drop your level... it could've been 6-3 or 6-2, but it happened to be [6-1, 6-1]."

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There was less stress for Alexei Popyrin following a mature showing to eliminate Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3).

Last year, Ruusuvouri didn't pick up a racquet for four and a half months to prioritise his mental health, and according to his opponent, the future is bright.

"He started playing a little bit similar to the old Emil... the one that was a top 50 player, and props to him for bringing such a level after not playing for so long," Popyrin stated. "I think if he continues like this, then he'll be back to where he was in no time."

Popyrin, 26, has the most daunting test in tennis when he tackles world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.

"I knew if I won I'd play [Jannik] straight away," Popyrin said when asked about his next match.

"Look, Jannik is the best in the world and he's one of the best for a reason, but I don't feel too starstruck by the occasion. I think I've been in that position before... last year's a great example of it [defeating Novak Djokovic in the third round].

"If I can stick to my game and play the way I want to play, then I cause trouble."

The sole Aussie winner from the women's side was 19-year-old Maya Joint, as she proved too strong for the unseeded Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva 6-4, 7-6(6).

"I was really wanting the win," Joint, who fended off two set points, explained post-match. "I think I had confidence from last year, and I just didn't want to go all four Slams going out first round [this year]... but last year was totally different to this year."

It marks back-to-back first round main draw wins at the US Open for Joint, as she prepares to play Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova, who cut short Kimberly Birrell's campaign (3-6, 2-6).

Meanwhile, Ajla Tomljanović was close to causing an almighty upset on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the 31-year-old let the chance slip against world No.3 Coco Gauff in a three-set thriller, finishing three minutes shy of the three-hour mark.

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