De Minaur Leads Aussie Charge at the US Open
Australia’s top tennis players have kicked off their US Open campaigns with plenty of excitement, and leading the way is Alex de Minaur. The eighth seed started his tournament in strong fashion, defeating fellow Australian Chris O’Connell in straight sets. What stood out about this match was just how composed de Minaur looked—he didn’t face a single break point during the entire contest. His 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win came in just under two hours, showing why he’s widely regarded as the nation’s number one player.
For O’Connell, the challenge was always going to be steep, especially as he came in nursing an oblique injury. Still, he managed to battle through, even fending off several break points in the final set, but de Minaur’s consistency ultimately proved too strong. After the win, de Minaur admitted it’s never easy facing a fellow Aussie, especially someone he considers a mate. His next opponent will be Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki, ranked 112 in the world, and if de Minaur can push through to the quarterfinals again, it would mark the first time in his career he’s managed consecutive last-eight appearances at a Grand Slam.
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De Minaur wasn’t the only Australian making headlines in New York. Alexei Popyrin also got off to a flying start, overpowering Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. His serve was firing—he hit 10 aces—and he racked up 44 winners to seal the win. But things only get tougher from here, as Popyrin’s reward is a second-round showdown with world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner. It’s a daunting challenge, but Popyrin is no stranger to causing upsets. Just last year he toppled Novak Djokovic at the US Open, and he actually holds a career win over Sinner, having beaten him back in 2021. Popyrin made it clear he isn’t intimidated, saying that if you want to win these tournaments, you eventually have to beat the very best.
Adding to the feel-good stories was 19-year-old Maya Joint, who celebrated her first major win of 2025. Joint overcame Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva in a tight two-set battle, taking it 6-4, 7-6. The victory was particularly sweet, given that she had fallen in the opening round at all three majors earlier this season. But this year has also been a breakout one for her, with two WTA titles already under her belt. She’s surged from outside the top 600 at the start of 2024 to now being ranked 43 in the world—a meteoric rise that has her teammates and coaches excited about just how far she can go. Next up, she’ll face eighth seed Amanda Anisimova, a big challenge but also another chance to prove she belongs among the world’s best.
So, as the US Open unfolds, Australia has plenty to cheer about. De Minaur looks sharp and determined, Popyrin is embracing the challenge of facing the very top, and Joint is showing why she’s one of the most promising young stars on the rise. It’s early days, but the signs are promising for a memorable tournament for the Aussies in New York.
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