Alexei Popyrin cruises into second round as Australian teen makes US Open debut in style

Alexei Popyrin lived up to his US Open stardom by becoming the first Australian winner on day one at Flushing Meadows, before being joined in the second round by exciting teenage talent Maya Joint and 2022 women’s quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic. Popyrin eased past Sonwoon Kwon without even hitting his stride, with the newly crowned Montreal Masters champion eventually going on to win 7-5 6-2 6-3 in the space of over two hours.

Seeded for the first time at a Slam, Popyrin hit 14 aces, broke the South Korean six times and lost his own serve just once in the entire match. The victory moved the 25-year-old within one victory of a likely third-round Saturday night showstopper with history-chasing reigning champion Novak Djokovic.

Popyrin will face unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez or Polish qualifier Maks Kasnikowski on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). Djokovic, who is seeking an unprecedented 25th singles slam, begins his campaign later on Monday (Tuesday AEST) as a heavy favourite to advance against Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.

“I feel like in my career I’ve had a lot of scenarios where I had one more match and then I’d play an important match, so I’ve gotten used to focusing on the match I have in hand,” Popyrin said. “And then if I win it, then of course I’ll have Novak in the third.

“But honestly, I only think about this match and not about Novak.”

The 28th-seeded Popyrin and 18-year-old Joint led the 20-player Australian team that made a strong start in the final slam of the tennis year.

The much-touted Joint certainly didn’t disappoint on her Grand Slam main draw debut, defeating experienced German Laura Siegemund 6-4 7-5 to double her career on-court earnings in a single day. The US-born prospect overcame some second-set nerves as she attempted to secure the most important win of her career, squandering a 5-0 lead and one match point at 4-5 on Siegemund’s serve.

To her delight and relief, Joint steadied herself to triumph on her fourth match point with a backhand volley winner. Win or lose next time out against American 14th seed Madison Keys or Czech Katerina Siniakova, Joint will leave Flushing Meadows at least $US130,000 ($A192,000) richer for her efforts.

Two years after ending Serena Williams’ illustrious career at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tomljanovic drew on fond memories and continued with a 6-4 6-4 victory over American qualifier Ann Li.

But Kim Birrell was beaten 6-4 6-4 by Paris Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic, the 24th seed. Despite the defeat, Birrell will walk away with a cheque for $US100,000 ($A147,575) – the biggest prize in tennis history for a first-round loser of a major.

Adam Walton was unable to follow Popyrin into the second round and lost 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 to French wildcard player Alexandre Muller.

Priscilla Hon is one of five Australian women to qualify for a record and will face a thrilling opportunity against world number two Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, in the women’s premier event at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Day two will see another 13 Australians play, including 10th-seeded Alex de Minaur, who opens his campaign against American Marcos Giron.