Alex De Minaur headlines Aussie hat-trick at US Open | ATP Tour

Match Report

De Minaur headlines Aussie hat-trick as Thompson upsets Hurkacz

O’Connell additionally wins, units Sinner conflict

August 29, 2024

After recovering from a mid-year damage blow, Alex de Minaur has not taken lengthy to get again to enterprise on the US Open.

The No. 10 within the PIF ATP Rankings eased previous qualifier Otto Virtanen 7-5, 6-1, 7-6(3) on Thursday afternoon to guide his third-round spot on the hard-court main. Famend as one of many fiercest rivals on the ATP Tour, De Minaur has now dropped only one set throughout his two matches to date in New York, the place he returned to motion after lacking seven weeks attributable to a hip damage.

“I’m very pleased [about the win], and clearly pleased to be again on courtroom enjoying in entrance of you guys,” stated De Minaur in his on-court interview. “It’s at all times an important environment in New York. I’m pleased to maintain going. On daily basis I’m getting somewhat bit higher and I’m wanting ahead to what’s to come back.”

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Regardless of not having competed since Wimbledon, De Minaur has seamlessly resumed a standout yr in New York. The 25-year-old Australian is now 38-12 for the season, and he’ll hope to proceed his spectacular comeback in his subsequent match in opposition to Mariano Navone or Daniel Evans.

“I’m getting higher ever day,” stated De Minaur. “I nonetheless don’t have loads of expectations, however I do know that each time I step out right here I’m going to compete, I’m going to attempt my hardest and hopefully placed on a present. Let’s see if I can maintain it going.”

De Minaur was joined within the third spherical by his countrymen Jordan Thompson and Christopher O’Connell.

Thompson notched his first victory in opposition to a Prime 10 opponent at a Grand Slam by upsetting seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(2), 6-1, 7-5. The World No. 32 loved a standout day on serve, successful 82 per cent (42/51) of factors behind his first supply en path to victory in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict with Hurkacz. Thompson subsequent takes on thirtieth seed Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated Roman Safiullin 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

O’Connell reached the third spherical of a significant for the third time by overcoming Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The 30-year-old will subsequent put together for a gathering with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Nuno Borges prevented Thanasi Kokkinakis from making it an ideal begin to the day for the Australian males in New York, nevertheless. The Portuguese downed Kokkinakis 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 to advance to face Jakub Mensik or Tristan Schoolkate.