Two Aussies break new ground in New York to join Kasatkina in the second round

Priscilla Hon during her battle against Leolia Jeanjean. (Getty/Maddie Meyer)

A trio of Aussies have secured a spot in the US Open second round, which saw Priscilla Hon and Adam Walton record career-best results.

Fresh off qualifying for the final Grand Slam of the year without dropping a set, Hon fired down eight aces and won 72 per cent of first serve points to defeat 30-year-old Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean 6-3, 7-5.

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The Queenslander ensured her first main draw win at Flushing Meadows, in her 9th overall Grand Slam appearance.

"I love New York. There's so much energy, it's so chaotic, and there's so much happening, but I would rather that than silence, so it's something that gives me a lot of energy and it makes me want to do well," said Hon, who scored her first main draw win at Grand Slam level since the 2020 Australian Open.

"It definitely feels like a long time coming... I'm like 'Jeez, how have I not been this close after so many years?'... It feels good to at least be over that little benchmark (winning a main draw match at the US Open)."

Her task doesn't get any easier, as she awaits 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 64.

Two weeks after clinching his maiden top 50 scalp over Daniil Medvedev at the Cincinnati Masters, another Queenslander, Adam Walton, added to that tally by taking out 22nd seed Ugo Humbert 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-1 on Court 10.

Walton, who will also feature in the US Open second round for the first time, told the media about how the past few weeks have boosted his confidence.

"I've had a great American summer," he said post-match. "I feel more comfortable being back on the hard courts, and I'm just glad that this American summer I've been able to capitalise on some good wins.

"Last year was horrible; I didn't win a match, but [I'm] just feeling very happy with where my game's at right now."

When asked where his win over Humbert ranks, Walton replied: "It's up there".

"Obviously, to beat a seeded player at a Slam is a first, and you take great confidence in doing so," he shared. "I'm starting to really believe that I can beat some of these top guys."

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Despite registering one win during the North American swing in the lead-up to Flushing Meadows, 15th seed Daria Kasatkina broke serve eight times to knock out Elena-Gabriela Ruse 7-5, 6-1, after navigating her way out of a tricky first set.

The 28-year-old Aussie has reached the US Open fourth round twice and is next scheduled to face world No.65 Kamilla Rakhimova.

James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic were sent packing early on the men's side from an Australian perspective, while 21-year-old Talia Gibson could only manage four games against the experienced Magdalena Fręch.

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