Max Purcell levelled the head-to-head ledger in opposition to Aleksandar Vukic for his first singles win in New York in three makes an attempt.
New York, USA, 28 August 2024 | Dan Imhoff@MaxPurcell98 is off to a powerful begin on the @usopen with a win over compatriot Aleks Vukic 7-5 6-4 6-3.#GoAussies pic.twitter.com/1w4hE2yf8t
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) August 27, 2024
He secured a conflict in opposition to both American 14th seed Tommy Paul or this week’s Winston Salem champion, Lorenzo Sonego, for the prospect to go a Grand Slam singles second spherical for the primary time.
“One thing sort of clicked in observe. I felt like I began hitting the ball lots higher, definitely than the earlier days, and introduced it into the warm-up this morning and I felt like I introduced it into right now’s match,” Purcell informed Stan Sport.
“I struggled in opposition to ‘Vuke’ up to now simply with how his recreation matches up with mine, however I felt like I simply had actually good management of the ball right now.”
The world No.97’s 36 winners have been 4 fewer than Vukic’s rely, however his 16 unforced errors have been 5 fewer as he levelled the pair’s head-to-head at 1-all.
> READ: De Minaur returns to motion with first-round US Open win
An ankle harm at 4-all within the second set didn’t assist issues for Vukic, who was additionally bidding to go the primary spherical in New York for the primary time in three makes an attempt.
He had claimed the pair’s solely tour-level assembly on grass at ‘s-Hertogenbosch within the spherical of 32 in June earlier than Purcell went on to achieve his maiden ATP last later that month at Eastbourne.
“I simply actually needed to faux I had no concept who he was,” Purcell stated of going through his good friend. “I assume unfortunate for ‘Vuke’ late in that second set there, a bit of little bit of an ankle harm, however I see it as 1-1.
“Ultimate of the Busan Challenger final yr I couldn’t proceed, so he made it a bit of bit tougher for me. Clearly not the way in which I need to win, however I’m nonetheless stoked to get by means of.”
Purcell has now reached the second spherical at three of the 4 majors, following this yr’s Australian Open and final yr’s Roland Garros.
> READ: Kokkinakis upsets world No.11 Tsitsipas at US Open 2024
Aussies in motion – US Open
RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Marcos Giron (USA) 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-4
Max Purcell (AUS) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 7-5 6-4 6-3
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d Fixed Lestienne (FRA) 6-1 6-3 6-2
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d [11] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5
[WC] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) d Taro Daniel (JPN) 4-6 4-6 6-4 7-6(6) 6-4
Ladies’s singles, first spherical
[4] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) d [Q] Destanee Aiava (AUS) 6-1 7-6(1)
[25] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d [WC] Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-2 6-0
Wang Xinyu (CHN) d [Q] Arina Rodionova (AUS) 3-6 6-4 6-1
[Q] Ena Shibahara (JPN) d Daria Saville (AUS) 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
> READ: Thompson prices into second spherical at US Open 2024
COMING UP
Males’s singles, first spherical
James Duckworth (AUS) v [31] Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [26] Nicolas Jarry (CHI)
[Q] Li Tu (AUS) v [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
Males’s singles, second spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [Q] Otto Virtanen (FIN)
[28] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Pedro Martinez (ESP)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [7] Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [9] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Max Purcell (AUS) v TBC
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Nuno Borges (POR)
[WC] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) v Jakub Mensik (CZE)
> VIEW: US Open 2024 males’s singles draw
Ladies’s singles, second spherical
[Q] Maya Joint (AUS) v [14] Madison Keys (USA)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [33] Elise Mertens (BEL)
> VIEW: US Open 2024 girls’s singles draw
> READ: Ten Australians to contest doubles at US Open 2024
Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
