Chris O’Connell has revealed the key recipe to Australia’s quiet tennis revolution as he plots to serve up one of many nice US Open boilovers in New York.
O’Connell takes on world primary and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner hungry to safe a maiden berth in a grand slam second week.
The 30-year-old is amongst 4 Australian males within the third spherical at Flushing Meadows for the primary time since 1997, becoming a member of ring chief Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and summer time hitting associate Jordan Thompson. All 4 hail from the NSW capital.
Popyrin is the primary to hit the court docket, taking up Novak Djokovic from about 9am (AEST) this morning.
One other 4 Sydneysiders — James Duckworth, Rinky Hijikata, Aleksandar Vukic and Max Purcell — have been amongst 10 Australians ranked within the high 100 getting into the Open for the primary time since 1980.
O’Connell credit mateship and the great old style Aussie meat pie for the beautiful renaissance.
Alexei Popyrin faces Novak Djokovic within the US Open this morning. (Getty Photos: Sarah Stier)
“Once we had the pre-season final 12 months, and this 12 months, there’s heaps of men floating round they usually’re all top-100 gamers, so we’re simply pushing one another,” O’Connell mentioned.
“It is an excellent environment.
“Me and ‘Thommo’ we practice a bit bit at Collaroy so we have got a little bit of a routine the place we completed our session and we go throughout the highway and there is a actually good pie store, like superb pie store.
“So we have now a pie there after which we go for a swim at Lengthy Reef.
“I combine it up on a regular basis however I really like the inventory commonplace — simply steak on a regular basis, each Monday.”
Thompson additionally swears by the award-winning store, simply across the nook from former Davis Cup captain Wally Masur’s home on Sydney’s northern seashores.
“That is positively the key, the Higher Crust throughout the highway from the courts after which we go down for a swim and catch some waves together with his brother as properly and Maxi (Purcell),” Thompson mentioned.
“So it was only a bit was a operating joke; we will not wait to get again down there and wrap up the season after the US Open.”
Enterprise comes earlier than pleasure, although, with Thompson additionally going through an Italian seed, world quantity 30 Matteo Arnaldi, for a spot within the final 16.
“It is an enormous alternative for each of us, there is no denying that,” mentioned Thompson, who may earn a conflict with de Minaur for a coveted spot within the quarter-finals.
De Minaur, even nonetheless enjoying lower than 100 per cent slot in his first match again from the hip damage that compelled him out of the Wimbledon quarter-finals, is favoured to take out British veteran Dan Evans in his third-round match on Louis Armstrong Stadium
O’Connell might be an enormous underdog towards Sinner on Arthur Ashe Stadium, however has crushed the highest seed — three years in the past on a tough court docket in Atlanta.
Sinner received their more moderen encounter in Miami earlier this 12 months.
“So I received to see the enhancements he is made,” O’Connell mentioned.
“On the identical time I’ve improved however he is simply tightened up his recreation much more.
“Nonetheless tremendous aggressive, an excellent ball striker, however I did not get as many errors in Miami as I did in Atlanta.
“After I did get excessive with him in Atlanta, I used my slice so much. I served rather well.
“I do know I’ve received to serve rather well if I will have any probability. In the event you’s serving properly and holding, then it simply makes life much more simpler.”
Aussies in motion on day six of the US Open
Males’s singles, third spherical
Chris O’Connell v 1-Jannik Sinner (ITA) — 4am Sunday AEST
Jordan Thompson v 30-Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) — 7am Sunday AEST
10-Alex de Minaur v Dan Evans (ENG) — 9am Sunday AEST
AAP
