US Open tennis 2019: Alex de Minaur through to third round
Alex de Minaur powers into the US Open third round as Ash Barty learns the identity of her next opponent.
As Alex de Minaur moved into the US Open third round in convincing fashion in New York today, Ash Barty has learned the identity of her next opponent.
The world no.2 will tackle Maria Sakkari for the third time this year after the talented Greek defeated Peng Shuai 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-2 in a match held over to today due to rain.
Barty leads their head-to-head 3-1 and has beaten the 30th seed in their two outings to date this year.
Their first was in the third round of the Australian Open, with the first set tight before the Australian star ran away with the match.
Sakkari claimed the first set in a recent encounter in Cincinnati but, once into the rhythm of the match, the world No. 2 was again able to dictate proceedings.
The 24-year-old claimed her only win over Barty in California last year and on the eve of their third round US Open clash described the Roland Garros champion as a remarkable talent.
“I mean, she is one of the toughest players to play in the third round, but that is my ranking,” she said.
“I said last year in Indian Wells when I beat her, for me, she is the best player on the WTA Tour. And that was when she was (number) 14, 15 in the world.
“You could see how talented she is, how mentally strong she is and how calm. You could see was going to achieve many good things and we can see how she has played this year.
“But I also believe in myself and try my best tomorrow for the best result for myself.”
de Minaur was the first to progress on a day where six Australians are in second round matches at Flushing Meadows.
Pitted against 31st seed Cristian Garin, the 20-year-old revelled in the warmer conditions today against a rival whose best form has come on clay.
The Alicante-based Australian was among those disadvantaged by poor weather yesterday, managing to play just one game before play was ultimately suspended.
But after a 6-3 7-5 6-3 victory, the right-hander said he was not overly concerned by the delays.
“Actually, I’m probably a lot different to a lot of the other players. Days like yesterday don’t bother me too much,” he said.
“The only bad thing is you’ve got to do your warm-up 17 times because you think you’re going to be on court and all that.
“As long as it’s just waiting and just spending time around at the courts, I’m very chilled, so I’ll just be in the locker room or be in the restaurant or eating food or just sitting down, pretty much doing what I would do if I was in my hotel room.
“So it doesn’t really affect me and I can get my head into the game once I get out there on court so yesterday was fine.”
A winner of two ATP Tour titles this year in Sydney and Atlanta, de Minaur will seek to reach the last 16 of a major for the first time when he tackles Japanese star Kei Nishikori.
He will draw on the experience of a year ago in New York where he had the crowd chanting his name in a third round match against former champion Marin Cilic that finished at 2.22am, the second latest in tournament history.
Cilic defeated Nishikori to claim the 2014 US Open.
“I will go out there and just play fearless. Ultimately, that is when I play my best tennis,” she said.
“I can draw a lot of good feelings from last year. I had a very tough match against Cilic and I just went out there and took it to him and obviously it was a little bit of a heartbreaker, but ultimately that is the way I have to play and that is what you want.
“You want to be playing these top guys at the top of their level. Hopefully I can really come out tomorrow and give it my best crack.”
Ajla Tomljanovic started well in her bid to join Barty in the third round when taking the first set against 21st seed Anett Kontaveit, with a perfectly executed backhand drop shot given her the lead.
When she fought back from a 2-5 deficit to level the second set, she appeared to have the momentum, but the Australian was unable to carry it through when beaten 4-6 7-5 6-2.
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