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Dasha in hot Open start

- DARREN WALTON WOMEN’S SINGLES Daria Gavrilova Ashleigh Barty MEN’S SINGLES Jason Kubler James Duckworth Jordan Thompson

DARIA Gavrilova has joined one of Australian tennis’ most exclusive clubs with a devastatin­g start to the US Open in New York.

A near-flawless Gavrilova crushed Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0 6-0 in just 51 minutes to become the first Australian to dish out a “double bagel” at the Open since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1975.

Not since Kristine Radford at Wimbledon in 1994 has an Aussie accomplish­ed the feat, which hasn’t happened at any major since Caroline Wozniacki clubbed Francoise Abanda without dropping a game at last year’s French Open.

“Too good,” Gavrilova beamed. “I played really well.

“I had a really aggressive mindset. I really brought it in the right times today.

“I was really dictating with my forehand a lot and it felt like I was holding my court position a lot better than some of my previous matches.”

The most emphatic win of her eight-year pro career vaulted the 25th seed into a secondroun­d showdown today with her tennis idol, two-time Australian Open champion and former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.

“It’s going to be really exciting and hopefully I get to play on a big court,” Gavrilova said.

“I’ve never played Vika. I’ve always wanted to practise with her at least but that never actually happened either.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I really like the way she goes about her tennis and her career.” Gavrilova’s commanding display completed a fine start for Australia at the season’s final major.

She joined Ashleigh Barty and Open debutant Jason Kubler in the second round in New York.

Barty lived up to her 18th seeding with a 6-1 6-3 dispatch of Tunisian qualifier Ons Jabeur, while Jason Kubler vindicated his wildcard entry with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 upset win over 19thseeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut.

But James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson bowed out.

Duckworth stretched Andy Murray to four sets before falling 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3 to the former world No.1, while Thompson confessed to suffering from a crisis of confidence after losing 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-3 to Brit Cameron Norrie.

“My tour-level matches this year have been pretty ordinary,” Thompson said. “It’s getting pretty frustratin­g. Something’s got to change.”

Nick Kyrgios is among Australian­s who will open their campaigns today. d Sara Sorribes Tormo (Esp) 6-0 6-0 d Ons Jabeur (Tun) 6-1 6-3

d 19-Roberto Bautista-Agut (Esp) 6-3 6-3 6-4

lost to Andy Murray (GB) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3

lost to Cameron Norrie (GB) 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-3

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