Chris O’Connell has revealed the key recipe to Australia’s quiet tennis revolution as he plots to serve up one of many nice US Open boilovers in New York.
O’Connell takes on world No.1 and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner hungry to safe a maiden berth in a grand slam second week.
The 30-year-old is amongst 4 Australian males within the third spherical at Flushing Meadows for the primary time since 1997, becoming a member of ring chief Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and summer time hitting companion Jordan Thompson.
One other 4 Sydneysiders – James Duckworth, Rinky Hijikata, Aleksandar Vukic and Max Purcell – had been amongst 10 Australians ranked within the prime 100 coming into the Open for the primary time since 1979/81.
O’Connell credit mateship and the great old school Aussie meat pie for the gorgeous renaissance.
“Once we had the pre-season final 12 months, and this 12 months, there’s heaps of fellows floating round and so they’re all top-100 gamers, so we’re simply pushing one another,” O’Connell instructed AAP.
“It’s an amazing ambiance.
“Me and ‘Thommo’ we practice a bit bit at Collaroy so we’ve obtained a little bit of a routine the place we completed our session and we go throughout the highway and there’s a extremely good pie store, like wonderful pie store.
“So we’ve a pie there after which we go for a swim at Lengthy Reef.
“I combine it up on a regular basis however I like the inventory customary – simply steak on a regular basis each Monday.”
Thompson additionally swears by the award-winning store, simply across the nook from former Davis Cup captain Wally Masur’s home on Sydney’s northern seashores.
“That’s undoubtedly the key, the Higher Crust throughout the highway from the courts after which we go down for a swim and catch some waves along with his brother as properly and Maxi (Purcell),” Thompson mentioned.
“So it was only a bit was a operating joke; we will’t wait to get again down there and wrap up the season after the US Open.”
Enterprise earlier than pleasure, although, with Thompson additionally going through an Italian seed, world No.30 Matteo Arnaldi, on Saturday (Sunday AEST) for a spot within the final 16.
“It’s an enormous alternative for each of us, there’s no denying that,” mentioned Thompson, who might earn a conflict with de Minaur for a coveted spot within the quarter-finals.
De Minaur, even nonetheless taking part in lower than 100 per cent slot in his first event again from the hip harm that compelled him out of the Wimbledon quarter-finals, is favoured to take out British veteran Dan Evans in his third-round match on Louis Armstrong Stadium
O’Connell will likely be an enormous underdog in opposition to Sinner on Arthur Ashe Stadium, however has crushed the highest seed – three years in the past on a tough court docket in Atlanta.
Sinner gained their more moderen encounter in Miami earlier this 12 months.
“So I obtained to see the enhancements he’s made,” O’Connell mentioned.
“On the identical time I’ve improved however he’s simply tightened up his sport much more.
“Nonetheless tremendous aggressive, an amazing ball striker, however I didn’t get as many errors in Miami as I did in Atlanta.
“Once I did get excessive with him in Atlanta, I used my slice lots. I served very well.
“I do know I’ve obtained to serve very well if I’m going to have any probability. In the event you’s serving properly and holding, then it simply makes life much more simpler.”
Aussies in motion on US Open day six
Males’s singles, third spherical
Chris O’Connell v 1-Jannik Sinner (ITA) – 4am Sunday AEST
Jordan Thompson v 30-Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) – 7am Sunday AEST
10-Alex de Minaur v Dan Evans (ENG) – 9am Sunday AEST
© AAP
