Rising star Alexei Popyrin is on yet another early collision course with defending champion Novak Djokovic as the US Open draw threw up a series of difficult encounters for Australia’s considerable Flushing Meadows contingent.
A remarkable army of no less than 20 Australians will feature in the main draw after six players, including five women, battled through the final round of qualifying to also book their places at the year’s final major starting on Monday.
Popyrin, the newly crowned Montreal Masters champion and 28th seed, is slated to meet Serbia’s Olympic gold medallist Djokovic in the third round in what would be their third grand slam meeting this season.
Djokovic won their previous two early-rounds encounters at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in four sets, but 28-year-old Popyrin did give the 24-time major champ an examination in both and will feel buoyed by his recent maiden Masters 1000 triumph in Canada.
First, though, Popyrin will have to find a way past South Korea’s tricky Soonwoo Kwon in the opening round, before facing a potential second-round contest against Spain’s Pedro Martinez or a qualifier.
Djokovic will also be up against a qualifier, Moldova’s Radu Albot, in his opener as he seeks an elusive 25th slam that would take him past the all-time mark he currently shares with Margaret Court.
Australia’s top hope Alex de Minaur, the 10th seed back in grand slam action after a hip injury prevented him from playing Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter-final, will open up against seasoned American Marcos Giron, with a qualifier awaiting the winner in the second round.
But danger abounds as de Minaur is in the same quarter as Carlos Alcaraz, who’s on the opposite side of the draw to Djokovic and would have to beat world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the semis to set up a ‘decider’ with the Serb after his Wimbledon triumph and Olympic finals defeat.
With 10 Australian men inside the world’s top 100 for the final slam of the year, there was perhaps an inevitability two would be drawn against each other.
This time, it’s Max Purcell versus Aleksandar Vukic.
There were also tough opening draws for Thanasi Kokkinakis, up against 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, Chris O’Connell, who faces Chilean 26th seed Nicolas Jarry, and resurgent James Duckworth, playing Italian 31st seed Flavio Cobolli.
But no one has a tougher challenge than Australia’s first-time qualifier Li Tu, who has drawn third-seeded Alcaraz.
In the women’s draw, Priscilla Hon’s reward for qualifying is a first-round date with v second seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Australian No.1 Daria Saville could face world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the second round if both get past qualifiers.
Teenage wildcard Taylah Preston will find grand slam life tough first up against former French Open finalist, 33-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 25th seed.
The Australian women’s contingent was also bolstered by four more joining Hon in successfully qualifying.
Destanee Aiava beat three higher-ranked rivals to progress but will need to take her game to even higher levels against fourth seed Elena Rybakina.
Kim Birrell also landed a seed, Croatian Donna Vekic, while veteran Arina Rodionova and teenager Maya Joint were spared such challenges.
WHO THE AUSTRALIANS FACE IN THE US OPEN FIRST ROUND (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
Men’s singles
10-Alex de Minaur v Marcos Giron (USA)
Jordan Thompson v Constant Lestienne (FRA)
Chris O’Connell v 26-Nicolas Jarry (CHI)
Rinky Hijikata v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
Aleksandar Vukic v Max Purcell
28-Alexei Popyrin v Soonwoo Kwon (KOR)
Adam Walton v Alexandre Muller (FRA)
James Duckworth v 31-Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
Tristan Schoolkate v Taro Daniel (JPN)
Thanasi Kokkinakis v 11-Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Li Tu v 3-Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
Women’s singles
Daria Saville v Ena Shibahara (JPN)
Ajla Tomljanovic v Ann Li (USA)
Taylah Preston v 25-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
Destanee Aiava v 4-Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Arina Rodionova v Xinyu Wang (CHN)
Kim Birrell v 24-Donna Vekic (CRO)
Maya Joint v Laura Siegemund (GER)
Priscilla Hon v 2-Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
