Alexei Popyrin will draw on his career-best victory over Novak Djokovic at last year’s US Open as he prepares to face world No.1 Jannik Sinner in New York.
Popyrin locked in a second-round clash with Italy’s defending champion with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) success over Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.
Unlike his Davis Cup teammate Alex de Minaur, Popyrin boasts a win over Sinner: a straight-sets result from four years ago on clay in Madrid. They also played an exhibition match the week before this year’s Australian Open, which Sinner won over a physically compromised Popyrin.
Alexei Popyrin has set up a second-round clash with world No.1 Jannik Sinner.Getty Images
“I knew if I won, I’d play [Sinner] straightaway. Jannik is the best in the world, and is one of the best for a reason – but I don’t feel too starstruck by the occasion,” Popyrin said.
“I’ve been in that position before. I think last year [against Djokovic] is a great example of it. I feel like, if I can stick to my game, if I can play the way I want to play, then I can cause trouble.”
Popyrin stunned 24-time major champion Djokovic in four sets under lights last year on Arthur Ashe Stadium – the world’s biggest tennis arena – to reach the last 16. That followed the 25-year-old winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal only weeks earlier.
It was the type of big-time performance that Popyrin has become known for, but he admits a lack of consistency stops him from being a permanent fixture with the tour’s elite.
However, Popyrin believes he is a better player than 12 months ago.
Facing Sinner, which de Minaur describes as “the toughest task in tennis”, offers Popyrin another chance to prove himself. The big-hitting Australian said every player, even Sinner, has a weakness that can be exploited.
“You’re walking out onto a big stadium, and you’re playing one of the top guys in the sport. They’re the moments that I relish,” Popyrin said.
Playing Jannik Sinner is the toughest challenge in tennis, Alex de Minaur says.Getty Images
“They’re the moments where I come out and play some of my best tennis – and I’m hoping I can do that again.
“I just have to focus on myself and what I’m doing … I go out there knowing that I can compete against them [the best players] and I know that I can beat some of them. I go in there, not afraid, not [feeling like I have] already lost. I feel like some players do.”
De Minaur also backed Popyrin to perform well against Sinner.
“I’ve always felt like ‘Pop’ is a big-match player. He’s enjoyed these big matches over the years,” de Minaur said.
“Last year, he beat Novak in a night match, which was pretty special, and I would say [playing Sinner is] the toughest task in tennis right now, but he’s going to be able to go out there and have a swing.
“He’s dangerous because he’s big. He’s got big weapons, and he can take the racquet out of your hands. I’m sure he’s going to do his best out there.”
1.42pm on Aug 27, 2025
Schoolkate headlines four Aussie winners in New York
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Wildcard Tristan Schoolkate’s lion-hearted five-set victory headlined four more Australian winners on a banner day at the US Open.
The 24-year-old’s top-100 debut came too late for him to earn direct entry at the bustling New York major, but he made his wildcard count with a 6-3, 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 1-6, 7-6 (10-6) triumph over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
Tristan Schoolkate came from a break down in the final set to reach the second round.Getty Images
It was Schoolkate’s second top-50 scalp in the past month, following his upset of Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca at the Toronto Masters, and continues his arrival as a serious player.
He also reached the second round at last year’s US Open before doing the same at the Australian Open in January, then winning the first set over eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Schoolkate’s four-hour, 18-minute win over Sonego followed more straightforward paths to the second round for eighth seed Alex de Minaur, Maya Joint and Alexei Popyrin, who next faces world No.1 Sinner.
Ajla Tomljanovic went agonisingly close to joining them, losing a near-three-hour epic to 2023 winner and world No.3 Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, in the women’s night match.
Eight Australians in total advanced, with Jordan Thompson, qualifier Priscilla Hon, Adam Walton and 15th-seeded Daria Kasatkina progressing the previous two days.
But none had a tougher path than Schoolkate, who won only a single game in each of the third and fourth sets before dropping serve in the fifth game of the final set as Sonego worked his way on top.
The net-rusher from Perth not only immediately broke back, but showed remarkable resilience and composure as the tension soared the deeper the contest went.
Schoolkate brushed off the disappointment of failing to convert a match point in the 12th game of the fifth set to race through a tie-breaker he never trailed in.
He let out a celebratory roar after Sonego’s forehand return on his third match point sailed beyond the baseline to book him a second-round date with 23rd-seeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik.
Dressed in all black, eighth-seeded de Minaur was untroubled in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of countryman Chris O’Connell, who entered the tournament having recently suffered an oblique injury.
The dual US Open quarter-finalist did not always produce his best tennis, and landed only 33 per cent of first serves in the second set, but never faced a break point while hitting 10 aces and 27 winners overall. He next meets Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.
Alex de Minaur breezed past countryman Chris O’Connell.AP
“It’s good to get the ball rolling. By no means did I expect perfect tennis, and I’m happy to get through,” de Minaur said.
“It was a difficult match against a teammate. I know what I’m capable of, and being top 10 for a couple of years now gives me that confidence in myself that I can bring a certain level … but over the years, New York has treated me very well.”
Popyrin eased past Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), while US-born teenage sensation Joint downed Andorran qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
Both world No.43 Joint’s grand slam match wins have come at Flushing Meadows, but she will have to go to another level if she is to make the round-of-32 at a major for the first time.
Joint’s next opponent is eighth-seeded American and 2025 Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova, who dispatched another Australian, Kim Birrell, 6-3, 6-2 in barely an hour.
The 19-year-old won singles titles in Rabat and Eastbourne this year and is one of only three teenagers in the WTA Tour’s top 50.
Hon and Thompson will lead the Australian charge on Thursday (AEST).
12.20pm on Aug 27, 2025
Gauff outlasts Tomljanovic
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Ajla Tomljanovic’s gallant upset bid finally ends, meaning there will not be a ninth Australian in the second round at the US Open.
American third seed Coco Gauff committed 59 unforced errors, including 10 double faults, but saw off Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5 in three minutes shy of three hours.
Tomljanovic will rue a wayward backhand drive volley at 30-all in the 11th game of the final set, but she played an aggressive match and did everything she could to try to cause an upset that no one could have predicted. The 32-year-old eventually drowned in her 56 unforced errors, and could hit only 12 winners of her own.
Gauff will serve for the match again after Tomljanovic fluffed a backhand drive volley on top of the net at 30-30, five-all.
A follow-up backhand into the net sealed Tomljanovic’s fate, and she will have to produce more heroics – or hope Gauff implodes again.
One of the commentators put it perfectly while describing Tomljanovic’s miss: “That could be the shot that keeps her up all night if she loses this match.”
12.06pm on Aug 27, 2025
Not over yet
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Coco Gauff has been her own worst enemy.
The 2023 US Open champion immediately fell in a 0-30 hole with consecutive double faults – she is up to 10 of them for the match – and three points later she ballooned a forehand over the baseline.
Suddenly, Ajla Tomljanovic can eye the upset again in this topsy-turvy encounter that is approaching three hours.
Coco Gauff has served 10 double faults.AP
12.02pm on Aug 27, 2025
Gauff to serve for match
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After an intriguing two-and-three-quarter hours, American Coco Gauff will serve for a spot in the second round.
Ajla Tomljanovic secured a tough hold to make sure Gauff will have to earn her spot on her own racquet at 5-4 in the final set. Tomljanovic has mostly been great today, right from the moment she broke the American to start the match.
Gauff sent down back-to-back double faults to start her pursuit for a second-round place...
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11.44am on Aug 27, 2025
Gauff edges closer to victory
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Gauff looks more confident by the game, and just capped a strong hold with an emphatic ace out wide to charge 4-2 up in the final set.
Tomljanovic had to stave off another break point just to hold in the previous game, so nothing is coming easy for the Australian. But let’s not forget: this was the exact scoreline in set two, and Tomljanovic managed to rally to level the match.
11.34am on Aug 27, 2025
Is that the key moment?
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After three straight breaks to start the final set, Coco Gauff stepped up to serve at 15-40.
But the American world No.3 ripped off the next four points – followed by an elongated “c’mon” – to push 3-1 ahead of Ajla Tomljanovic in their first-round clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium. We have a pivotal few games ahead.
11.24am on Aug 27, 2025
Back on serve
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And just like that, Tomljanovic breaks back for one-all after another sloppy Coco Gauff service game, ending with a backhand into the net.
It has been a strange display from this year’s Roland-Garros champion, and she will be desperate to find a way out of this.
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11.21am on Aug 27, 2025
Gauff strikes first in third set
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Ajla Tomljanovic will have to win from behind in the final set after dropping a lengthy opening service game.
Coco Gauff is doing everything she can to avoid a major boilover, but Tomljanovic refuses to go away. It will be interesting to see whether the Australian can find a way to get back on serve – and ideally soon.