Aussie trio in form
SYDNEY’S Chris O’Connell, who won a maiden Grand Sam match in New York on Wednesday, is no stranger to adversity and always felt wellequipped to deal with the closure of the tennis circuit.
On his US Open debut, O’Connell (pictured) was the first of three Australians through on the second day of the tournament, with higherprofile compatriots Alex de Minaur and John Millman also winners in their first-round matches.
Superstar Serena Williams opened her campaign for a 24th major title with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over fellow American Kristie Ahn in a confidence-boosting win given her recent struggles on court.
Williams’ victory was the 102nd of her career at the US Open, a record.
Another former champion Andy Murray produced the performance of the tournament to date to reel in Yoshihito Nishioka 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4 in 4hr 39min.
The three-time major champion’s career looked over when he left Melbourne Park after the 2019 Australian Open. Organisers even played a farewell video on court.
But Murray had a radical hip procedure and returned to tennis late last year, though his outing against Nishioka marked his comeback to major tennis.
O’Connell, too, has endured his share of battles before enjoying the finest moment of his career by defeating Laslo Djere 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in 3hr 9min. Not only did his win move him to a career-high ranking of 108, based on a live estimate, a cheque of at least $136,000 now awaits him.
His second round outing is likely to be at either Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium given his rival is last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev.
De Minaur was too solid for Andrej Martin in a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win over 2hr 11min.
The 21-year-old, who won the Cincinnati Masters doubles on Saturday, will face French veteran Richard Gasquet, a threetime semi-finalist at major level.
Gasquet is among a handful of players granted a special exemption to play despite coming into close contact with fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire, who was withdrawn from the event after recording a positive COVID-19 test.
Millman, a US Open quarter-finalist in 2018, said before travelling to America that he did not have great expectations given the lay-off.
But he has found form swiftly and was far too good for 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in a 6-1, 6-4 ,6-4 win. He faces talented American Frances Tiafoe, a quarter-finalist in the second round.
James Duckworth was the only Australian to fall when he was beaten in four sets by Salvatore Caruso 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-2.