Chris O’Connell, Jordan Thompson and Alex de Minaur have all advanced to the third round in the US Open 2024 men’s singles competition.
New York, USA , 31 August 2024 | Leigh Rogers
As Alex de Minaur attempts to complete his set of second-week appearances at this year’s Grand Slam tournaments, the world No.10 is sharing the spotlight with several compatriots at US Open 2024.
Four Australian men progressed to the third round in this year’s US Open men’s singles competition, the most to reach this stage since 1997.
Jordan Thompson is among them and has the chance to equal his career-best Grand Slam result when he takes on world No.30 Matteo Arnaldi on day six at Flushing Meadows.
“It’s an opportunity for both of us, there’s no denying that,” said world No.32 Thompson, who is looking to reach a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time since US Open 2020.
It will be Thompson’s first career meeting with the 23-year-old Arnaldi, who played a starring role in Italy’s triumph against Australia in last year’s Davis Cup final.
“I did practise with him here [this week], but I don’t really read too much into practise,” Thompson said. “So I’ll have to watch some tapes.”
Thompson’s coach, former Australian player Marinko Matosevic, has a busy day ahead, with his other charge, Australia’s Chris O’Connell, also featuring in third-round men’s singles action.
The 30-year-old Thompson was full of praise for O’Connell, who he described as “a quiet achiever” and “silent assassin”.
“I think he likes going under the radar,” Thompson said of his fellow Sydneysider, who he has shared a coach with for the past two years. “He’s had some great results and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”
O’Connell declared he is ready to embrace the limelight when he takes on world No.1 Jannik Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I’ve played him a couple of times now, but I haven’t played him since he’s been world No.1,” O’Connell told Stan Sport after his second-round win. “He’s one of the biggest names in tennis, so it’s going to be awesome.”
The world No.87, who defeated Sinner in their first career meeting at Atlanta three years ago, does have experience competing on the US Open’s biggest courts and hopes to draw from his memories of extending then-world No.3 Daniil Medvedev to four sets in a thrilling second-round encounter at Louis Armstrong Stadium last…
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