Thanasi Kokkinakis stuns world No.11 at US Open as 10 Aussies charged into the second round

He felt a little silly dropping to the ground after an opening round stunner at the US Open, but it was a win that meant a lot for an Aussie gun among 10 into the second round.

Thanasi Kokkinakis says his stunning upset win at the US Open was all “mental” and his best at a grand slam with his victory over 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas the highlight of another successful Australian day in New York.

Wildcard Tristan Schoolkate won on US Open debut, 10th seed Alex de Minaur needed four sets to take down gritty American Marcos Giron, while world No.32 Jordan Thompson, Chris O’Connell and Max Purcell scored wins to make it 10 Australians into the second round in New York.

Li Tu took a set off third seed Carlos Alacarez but he and James Duckworth joined Destanee Aiava, Taylah Preston and Daria Saville in exiting the tournament with Saville exploding in a racquet-busting display conceding post-match she only played for the $150,000 first round losers cheque.

But victory could not be denied for Kokkinakis, who fell to his back on the baseline in celebration as he booked his spot in the second round with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win that was just his second main-draw win at Flushing Meadows and his first since 2019.

“I had a five-set battle with him a couple of years ago at the Australian Open and I was expecting a war,” Kokkinakis said in his post-match interview.

“It was physical out there and I have a tendency to sometimes drag these matches on and have some real long battles, but I just tried to stay focused, stay the course and just tried to play every point.”

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE 🇦🇺

Thanasi Kokkinakis notches the biggest win of his career at Grand Slam level! pic.twitter.com/SOUaex1jAs

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2024

“I’ve never felt like I’ve played my best tennis here, which is surprising because it should suit me and my game.

“It’s my best win at a grand slam for sure,” he said. “A lot of hard work has gone into it (as well as), just staying positive and competing my nuts off really.”

It’s been 11 years since Kokkinakis made the 2013 boys final at the US Open and the world no.86 will now face world No.34 Nuno Borges of Portugal in the second round

“I had a lot of tight losses when I’ve been in winning positions. That was just all relief and mental I would say,” he said.

“I’m super excited.”

Thompson was untroubled in his 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory against France’s Constant Lestienne, one of the most comprehensive victories of Thompson’s grand slam career.

“I started the match well, really solid and raced out to a 4-1 lead, double break,” Thompson said.

“I think I won six games in a row and really laid down the law and showed him that it was going to be a tough day for him.”

After staging a stunning comeback to beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 4-6 4-6 6-4 7-6 6-4, 23-year-old Schoolkate, from Perth, said he was “not finished” just making the second round after a near four-hour opening match.

Tristan @schoolkate wins his first Majors main draw match in a 5-set win against Taro Daniel at @usopen! 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/QSMiA8YuKo

— TennisAtlantic (@TennisAtlantic) August 27, 2024

He’ll face another US Open debutant, world No.65 Jakub Mensik, in the next round.

“I’ve got nothing to lose,” Schoolkate said.

“I’m one of the lowest-ranked guys in the draw, so I’m just taking it as it comes and I’ll give my best.

“I was down a break in the third set and down a break in the fourth set. Then when I broke in the first game of the fifth set, that fifth set felt like it went forever.

“Physically, it was pretty draining. Mentally, it’s hard to focus for so long, but I’m pretty proud of how I managed it physically and mentally today and happy to get through.

“It’s a great result and I’m proud, but the tournament’s not finished. Hopefully, I can keep it rolling.”

De Minaur’s next opponent will be Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, while Thompson will play world No.7 Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the last 32.

Saville was left questioning her place in the sport after losing a lengthy third-set tie breaker 10-6 to go down to Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara in a three-hour, 16-minute cliffhanger.

“It is just a cycle. I have had it before when I was playing injured and it is just a horrible cycle. (I’m thinking), ‘Do I even want to do this anymore’?” she said after her loss.

Daria Saville loss to Ena Shibahara was heartbreaking. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

“I’m really negative right now. I don’t know how I will feel tomorrow and probably I won’t feel that way in a few days, but it is not fun playing injured

“I will regroup maybe, but sometimes I maybe feel like I don’t even want to do this thing anymore.”