Alexei Popyrin has lived up to his star billing to be the first Australian winner on day one of the US Open in New York.
The recently crowned Montreal Masters champion was quickly joined in round two by exciting teenage prospect Maya Joint as Australia’s bumper 20-strong contingent made a hot start to tennis’s final grand slam of the year.
Popyrin cruised past Sonwoon Kwon without even hitting top gear, eventually arriving safely in the second round with a 7-5 6-2 6-3 win in a tick over two hours.
Seeded for the first time at a slam, Popyrin crunched 14 aces, broke the South Korean six times while only dropping his own serve once all match.
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Victory edged the 25-year-old to within one more win of a likely third-round blockbuster with defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Popyrin next faces either unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez or Polish qualifier Maks Kasnikowski on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Chasing an unprecedented 25th singles major, Djokovic will open his campaign later on Monday (Tuesday AEST) as a prohibitive favourite to advance against Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.
The 28th-seeded Popyrin and 18-year-old Joint were among seven Australians scheduled for day-one action.
Joint didn’t disappoint on her grand slam main-draw debut, seeing off experienced German Laura Siegemund 6-4 7-5 to more than double her career on-court earnings in a single day.
Win or lose next up against American 14th seed Madison Keys or Czech Katerina Siniakova, Joint will leave Flushing Meadows at least $US130,000 ($A192,000) richer for her efforts.
Another of Australia’s record six women’s qualifiers, Kim Birrell earlier bowed out with a 6-4 6-4 loss to Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic, the 24th seed.
Despite the defeat, Birrell will herself depart with a cheque for $US100,000 ($A147,575) – the biggest prize in tennis history for a first-round loser at a major.
Fellow qualifier Priscilla Hon and 2022 quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic play later.
Hon has an exciting opportunity against world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning back-to-back Australian Open champion in the feature women’s night match on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Rinky Hijikata – who made an inspired run to the second week last year as a wildcard – plays Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Adam Walton faces Alexandre Muller, both hoping to join Popyrin in the men’s second round.
Another 13 Australians play on day two, including 10th seed Alex de Minaur opening his campaign against American Marcos Giron.
Newshttps://https://ift.tt/8PQfHq5 Popyrin leads promising Aussie start at US Open as teen prospect makes stunning debut
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