De Minaur powers into US Open third round once again | Bat N Ball

De Minaur powers into US Open third round once again | Bat N Ball

In a manner akin to securing a prized Broadway ticket, Alex de Minaur has surged into the third round of the US Open. The 13th-ranked Australian tennis sensation swiftly dismantled Yibing Wu, besting him 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in a mere 86 minutes, marking his fifth entry into the last 32 during seven appearances in New York.

Having reached the quarterfinals in 2020, de Minaur thrives amidst the swift tempo of Flushing Meadows. However, his performance on Thursday bore little resemblance to his earlier four-set struggle against Kazakh qualifier Timofey Skatov.

Wu, a formidable Chinese competitor, achieved notoriety for ousting Nick Kyrgios from Stuttgart earlier this year during the grand slam finalist's early return from a knee injury. Additionally, Wu triumphed over Denis Shapovalov and Taylor Fritz, securing a place in the final on Dallas hard courts in February.

Nevertheless, de Minaur managed to break Wu's serve seven times, claiming a remarkable 82% of his first-serve points, all while committing a scant 10 unforced errors across 22 games. This display of prowess secured his spot in the last 32 alongside his compatriot, Rinky Hijikata.

Reflecting on his victory, de Minaur commented, "Matches are never easy, so whenever you secure a win like that, you embrace it without hesitation." He also added, "I don't believe he was operating at full capacity today. It's unfortunate for him, but ultimately, I executed my game plan effectively and am pleased to advance."

Throughout the match, de Minaur maintained an unwavering focus, stating, "I was proud of my mental fortitude throughout the contest. I remained fully engaged from the very first point to the last, irrespective of the unfolding circumstances."

He concluded, "A match without drama is always preferable." The 13th seed is slated to face Nicolas Jarry in his next match, and he expressed the challenges of this upcoming encounter: "He's a formidable opponent due to his imposing stature and exceptional serve and forehand skills. He possesses potent weapons that can shift the balance of a match at any given moment. Thus, I anticipate a challenging contest where my objective will be to keep him on the move, uncomfortable, and prevent him from taking control."

Meanwhile, fellow Australian Chris O'Connell aims to emulate de Minaur and Hijikata by advancing to the third round, where he will face the third-seeded 2021 Open champion, Daniil Medvedev, in a later match on day four.

As for wildcard entrant Hijikata, he faces China's world No.67, Zhizhen Zhang, on Friday (Saturday AEST), marking his debut in the third round of a grand slam tournament.