Thanasi Kokkinakis is amongst 10 Australian males scheduled to compete on day 5 at US Open 2024.
New York, USA, 29 August 2024 | Leigh Rogers
The unbelievable energy and depth in Australian males’s tennis has been on present for the world to see at this 12 months’s US Open.
From the 45-year excessive of 12 main-draw singles rivals, eight of them progressed to the second spherical. This was the most Australian males to succeed in this stage on the match since 1976.
Six of those record-breaking Aussie gamers are again in motion on day 5 at Flushing Meadows, seeking to safe a spot within the third spherical.
World No.10 Alex de Minaur leads the Aussie cost, relieved he has recovered from a hip harm to compete on the remaining Grand Slam of the season.
“I’ve carried out my greatest to get again on the court docket and simply really feel very joyful that I’m again on court docket and capable of compete,” mentioned the 25-year-old from Sydney.
De Minaur meets Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, a 23-year-old ranked world No.125 and seeking to advance to a Grand Slam third spherical for the primary time in his profession.
Max Purcell takes on world No.14 and American hope Tommy Paul, whereas Jordan Thompson has his sights set on scoring a primary top-10 win at Grand Slam degree when he meets world No.7 Hubert Hurkacz.
Thompson is anticipating “a really powerful day on the workplace” in his first profession assembly with the towering Pole.
“He’s acquired among the best serves on the tour,” mentioned world No.32 Thompson. “He wins quite a lot of matches with that weapon and clearly can play from the again as effectively. He’s a high quality top-10 participant.”
Thanasi Kokkinakis and Tristan Schoolkate may arrange an all-Australian showdown within the third spherical – however first, every must navigate previous tough opponents.
Kokkinakis, who eradicated eleventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas within the opening spherical, faces world No.34 Nuno Borges.
The 27-year-old from Portugal, who’s in career-best kind, gained their solely earlier assembly in March earlier this 12 months. Nonetheless, world No.82 Kokkinakis is feeling assured about his probabilities.
“I actually do again my recreation once I’m wholesome and locked in,” he instructed Stan Sport.
In the meantime, Schoolkate, a 23-year-old wildcard ranked No.193 and competing in his first Grand Slam principal draw, meets Czech teen Jakub Mensik.
“I’ve acquired nothing to lose,” Schoolkate mentioned of his mindset forward of going through the fast-rising world No.65. “I’m one of many lowest-ranked guys within the draw, so I’m simply taking it because it comes. I’ll give my greatest.”
World No.87 Chris O’Connell can be in motion, going through 23-year-old Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci.
The 30-year-old Australian is seeking to advance to the third spherical in New York for the primary time.
“I educated with him a couple of month in the past, so I kind of know what to anticipate,” O’Connell mentioned of the world No.101. “He’s a younger Italian man and on the rise, so it’ll be one other powerful match.”
A complete of 10 Australian males are scheduled to compete on day 5, with Matt Ebden, John Friends, Rinky Hijikata and John-Patrick Smith all starting their doubles campaigns.
The US Open is broadcast reside in Australia on the 9 Community and Stan Sport, with protection starting from 1am AEST (from Friday 30 August).
Aussies in motion on day 4:
Males’s singles, second spherical
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [7] Hubert Hurkacz (POL), Stadium 17, first match (from 1am AEST)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [Q] Mattia Bellucci (ITA), Courtroom 12, first match (from 1am AEST)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Nuno Borges (POR), Courtroom 11, second match
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [Q] Otto Virtanen (FIN), Grandstand, third match
[WC] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) v Jakub Mensik (CZE), Courtroom 12, third match
Max Purcell (AUS) v [14] Tommy Paul (USA), Grandstand, fourth match (not earlier than 7am AEST)
Males’s doubles, first spherical
John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Andreas Mies (GER) v [Alt] Alexandre Muller (FRA)/Sebastian Ofner (AUT), Courtroom 14, first match
John Friends (AUS)/Jamie Murray (GBR) v Andre Goransson (SWE)/Sam Verbeek (NED), Courtroom 6, second match
Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) v Diego Hidalgo (COL)/Alejandro Tabilo (CHI), Courtroom 14, second match
[2] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v Sander Arends (NED)/Robin Haase (NED), Courtroom 15, third match
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Tallon Griekspoor (NED) v [11] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Nikola Mektic (CRO), Courtroom 11, fourth match
Combined doubles, first spherical
[4] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) v Austin Krajicek (USA)/Chan Hao-Ching (TPE), Courtroom 15, fifth match
> VIEW: Full US Open 2024 day 4 schedule
Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!