Millman, De Minaur and O'Connell advance after Murray wins epic

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This was published 3 years ago

Millman, De Minaur and O'Connell advance after Murray wins epic

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New York continued to be a happy hunting ground for Alex de Minaur, who picked up an opening-round win at the US Open and became one of four Australian men to progress to the second round.

The Australian No.1, who made the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year, cruised to a straight-sets win over Slovakian Andrej Martin.

Alex De Minaur returns against Slovakia's Andrej Martin.

Alex De Minaur returns against Slovakia's Andrej Martin.Credit: AP

De Minaur's success came on a rousing day for the Australian men, with John Millman picking up a win as well, and Chris O'Connell continuing his emergence with a four-set victory as well. The trio will join Jordan Thompson, who claimed victory on day one, in the second round.

De Minaur dispatched Martin without any major problems, breaking the Slovakian's serve seven times in a two-hour, 6-4, 6-3 ,7-5 victory.

He will take on France's Richard Gasquet on Friday after the veteran knocked over a fellow journeyman, Croatian Ivo Karlovic, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 in his opener.

O'Connell will face 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev on Friday after the 26-year-old Sydneysider produced a tenacious first-round win over Serbian Laslo Djere.

O’Connell, who was ranked outside the world's top 1000 players last year but rose with a bullet through lower tours, dropped the opening set but fought back and got the upper hand in the next three tightly fought sets.

The world No.116 finished with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 win in a dogfight that stretched over three hours.

Millman produced a vintage display to down Georgia’s No.22 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets.

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Four Australian men, including John Millman, are through to the second round.

Four Australian men, including John Millman, are through to the second round.Credit: Getty

Though not favoured to win the clash, 2018 US Open quarter-finalist Millman turned in a dominant performance against Basilashvili, winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray turned back the clock with a victory over Yoshihito Nishioka to deliver the surest sign yet the Scot is also physically capable of going the distance at a major once more.

The 33-year-old Briton, who has twice had hip surgery, battled back from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 6-4 in a gruelling four-hour, 39-minute marathon in his first singles appearance at a slam since the 2019 Australian Open.

Murray's last appearance at a major ended in tears as he fell to Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in an epic five-setter in the first round in Melbourne, with the Scot headed for surgery and an uncertain future.

There were no tears on Tuesday, however.

"I've just played a four-and-a-half hour match when I never thought I'd be able to," Murray told reporters.

"I felt way better today at the end of that match than I did when I played Bautista in Australia. I'm not sitting here with my hip throbbing and aching. I'll be able to sleep fine tonight."

Murray, who recovered from a break down in both the third and fifth sets and saved a match point late in the fourth, said he needed to fine-tune his game now that the questions over his fitness had been answered.

"I was very close to going out but kept coming back, kept fighting, so I'm proud of that," he added.

"The biggest question would have been the physical one. That was the thing I was most happy with, that I lasted.

A jubilant Andy Murray.

A jubilant Andy Murray.Credit: AP

"That was probably my biggest doubt going in and the biggest answer I got from the match today, was physically that I was good. Tennis-wise I could do better."

Serena Williams also took her first step toward a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on Tuesday, defeating Kristie Ahn 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.

Williams got off to a slow start, showing signs of nervousness early in the first set, but kicked her game into high gear in the second, firing off 13 aces and 28 winners during the match and harnessing her powerful return to keep her opponent on the run.

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