O’Connell sets up showdown with world No.1 at US Open 2024 | 30 August, 2024 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Chris O’Connell is enjoying a career-best run at the US Open, advancing to the men’s singles third round for the first time.

New York, USA, 30 August 2024 | Leigh Rogers

Chris O’Connell has matched his career-best Grand Slam result, advancing to the third round at a major tournament for the third time in his career.

The 30-year-old from Sydney continued his impressive run at US Open 2024, scoring a 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in second-round men’s singles action today at Flushing Meadows.

O’Connell proved nearly untouchable on serve early in the two-hour and 48-minute encounter, not facing a break point until the sixth game of the third set.

World No.101 Bellucci made a late push, reeling off four consecutive games to clinch the third set. However, a composed O’Connell quickly regained momentum in the fourth set to close out the match.

It continues an incredible return to form for O’Connell, who upset 26th seed Nicolas Jarry in the opening round earlier this week.

The world No.87, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury which caused him to withdraw from Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics in recent months, last won back-to-back tour-level main-draw matches in March.

Enjoying a career-best run at the US Open, O’Connell’s performance matches his third-round appearances recorded at Australian Open 2022 and Wimbledon last season.

His reward is a third-round showdown with another Italian, world No.1 and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.

They have met twice before, splitting the results.

Aussies in action – US Open

RESULTS
Men’s singles, second round
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d [7] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 7-6(2) 6-1 7-5
Chris O’Connell (AUS) d [Q] Mattia Bellucci (ITA) 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3

> READ: Thompson stuns world No.7 Hurkacz at US Open 2024

COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [Q] Otto Virtanen (FIN)
Max Purcell (AUS) v [14] Tommy Paul (USA)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Nuno Borges (POR)
[WC] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) v Jakub Mensik (CZE)

Men’s singles, third round
[28] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [1] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [30] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)

> VIEW: US Open 2024 men’s singles draw

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