Alex de Minaur has been knocked out of the US Open in the second round, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in straight sets on Friday morning (AEST).
A day after wrapping up his rain-interrupted opening match, the Australian sixth seed found himself in a huge hole, down two sets to love as he struggled to counter the Dutchman’s massive serve and forehand.
Van de Zandschulp went up a break of serve in the second set, but de Minaur broke back to level at 4-4 before van de Zandschulp closed out a tense conclusion to the second set 7-5.
De Minaur’s wife Katie Boulter, who was knocked out by Karolina Muchova in the second round, watched on nervously from stands as he fought to avoid an early elimination at Flushing Meadows.
De Minaur saved a few match points but van de Zandschulp would not be denied, closing out a 6-4 7-5 6-2 victory, handing the Aussie his earliest US Open exit in five years.
“The Dutchman destroys the Demon,” Nine commentator Brenton Speed said.
“You have to give van de Zandschulp credit. He’s just shut Alex down every time he’s had opportunities,” Jelena Dokic said on Channel 9.
The defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for de Minaur, who made the third round at the French Open and opened up about his mental demons after losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon and squandered a chance to go beyond the quarterfinals.
Tristan Schoolkate was defeated by Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5, and Alexei Popyrin also lost in four sets to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 2-6 7-6 7-6 6-2.
Fellow top 10 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was also knocked out by Karen Khachanov 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-2.
7.10am – Aussie score huge upset, 400k payday
Four Australian men were in second round action at the US Open on Friday but only Dane Sweeny made it into the third round after he pulled off a shock victory over Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Musetti missed Wimbledon with a thigh injury and appeared to be significantly hampered by an injury on court 17 at Flushing Meadows on Friday (AEST), calling for the physio and going off court for a medical time-out.
The 13th seed took the first set 6-3 but it was all Sweeny after that as the Aussie, who stands 170cm tall, closing out the match 6-1 6-2 6-2 to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career.
“The biggest win of his life,” the commentator proclaimed.
The highlight of the match came in the second set when Sweeny dove for a forehand volley and nailed the winner while suspended horizontally in the air.
Watch Dane Sweeny’s acrobatic volley in the video above
Veteran tennis writer Christopher Clarey said: “Loving Aussie Dane Sweeny doing his Boris Becker thing at the #USOpen. Just hit a diving forehand volley winner on his way to breaking Lorenzo Musetti early in the 2d set
“Doubt that diving on hardcourts is sustainable but happy to watch him try!”
The US Open’s social media account posted: “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s SUPER DANE! ️
“Sweeny goes airborne to pull off a ridiculous diving volley!”
“I’m so grateful to be even able to compete in grand slams,” Sweeney said after the victory.
“I’ve put a lot of work in. Tennis journey is such a rollercoaster. I’m so grateful to be able to play in front of this crowd.”
By making the third round in New York, Sweeny will pocket $290,000 (A$402,000) in prize money for his efforts.
“Unbelievable,” Jelena Dokic said on Channel 9.
“It was the way that he played. The court coverage in this match to extend rallies, to push the points to be physical, was absolutely phenmenal.”
Musetti has endured a horrid run with injury this year. The Italian was up two sets to love against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open before being forced to retire due to injury.
Sweeny is ranked 123rd in the world but has a solid year on tour, which began with the 25-year-old reaching the second round of the Australian Open.
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff defeated Paula Badosa 6-4 7-5 in a high quality encounter, and Elena Rybakina won through to the third round with a straight sets win.