Chris O’Connell scores a four-set victory over fellow Australian Max Purcell in opening-round singles motion at US Open 2023.
New York, USA, 29 August 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Chris O’Connell has made a powerful begin to his US Open 2023 marketing campaign, scoring a four-set win over in-form compatriot Max Purcell within the opening spherical.
Purcell entered the event at a career-high rating of world No.43 and having received 11 of his previous 14 matches. This included two top-20 victories.
World No.69 O’Connell, alternatively, had recorded solely a single win from his previous six matches.
But this pre-tournament kind didn’t show an element, as O’Connell carved out a 6-4 6-3 3-6 7-6(5) victory within the all-Australian showdown at Court docket 15.
“I do know Max very well, I’ve identified him since he was eight,” O’Connell stated.
“I’ve seen him develop over time and of late he has been enjoying some unbelievable tennis.”
But the 29-year-old O’Connell dealt with Purcell’s selection with aplomb, permitting his fellow Sydneysider to win solely 47 per cent of internet factors.
> READ: Woodbridge praises Purcell’s all-court sport
O’Connell additionally tallied 60 winners to Purcell’s 52 throughout the two-hour and 52-minute encounter.
The 25-year-old Purcell regarded set to stage a steely comeback when he claimed the third set after which constructed a 3-1 benefit within the fourth set.
However the regular O’Connell responded by reeling off 4 consecutive video games to provide himself the chance to serve for the match.
Purcell broke to briefly hold his hopes alive, earlier than O’Connell accomplished his victory in a fourth-set tiebreak.
“After the primary two units, I attempted to alter up what I used to be doing slightly bit and it labored for patches there,” Purcell stated.
“It might have been attention-grabbing if it went to a fifth I believe, however he performed actually and deserved it.”
It’s O’Connell’s sixth top-50 win of the season and his second profession main-draw victory on the US Open.
He additionally reached the second spherical at Flushing Meadows in 2020, the place he misplaced to Daniil Medvedev in straight units.
World No.3 Medvedev shall be his second-round opponent in New York as soon as once more.
The US Open 2021 champion made a commanding begin to his marketing campaign, conceding solely two video games in a first-round demolition of Hungarian Attila Balazs.
Though O’Connell has misplaced each of his earlier conferences towards Medvedev, he did lengthen the previous world No.1 to 3 units in Doha earlier this season.
“I really feel I’ve bought sport fashion to possibly trigger him some hassle,” O’Connell stated.
It was a troublesome day for different Australian contenders in New York.
World No.12 Alexander Zverev proved too sturdy for Aleksandar Vukic, whereas James Duckworth and Thanasi Kokkinakis each misplaced towards qualifiers.
Harm derailed Jason Kubler and Jordan Thompson’s campaigns, with each retiring throughout their first-round matches.
Alex de Minaur managed to buck that development to attain a first-round victory, however wanted 4 units to beat qualifier Timofey Skatov.
> READ: De Minaur off to a successful begin at US Open
Aussies in motion – US Open
RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[13] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [Q] Timofey Skatov (KAZ) 6-2 3-6 6-1 7-5
Chris O’Connell (AUS) d Max Purcell (AUS) 6-4 6-3 3-6 7-6(5)
[12] Alexander Zverev (GER) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) d Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-3 3-0 ret.
Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 ret.
[Q] Hsu Yu-Hsiou (TPE) d Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3
[Q] Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) d [LL] James Duckworth (AUS) 6-4 7-6(11) 6-3
COMING UP
Males’s singles, second spherical
[13] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Wu Yibing (CHN)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [3] Daniil Medvedev
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Ladies’s singles, second spherical
Daria Saville (AUS) v [1] Iga Swiatek (USA)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [4] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
> READ: Eleven Australians to contest doubles at US Open 2023
E book on-line, play at this time: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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