Max Purcell’s foray on the Winston-Salem Open has come to an finish in a double dose of disappointment for the in-form Australian tennis star.
Contesting his second ATP quarter-final in as many weeks, Purcell succumbed 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to Czech Jiri Lehecka after being unable to transform his solely break level of a tense serving shootout.
The defeat was simply Purcell’s third in his previous 13 matches, with the opposite two coming in opposition to world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati and former prime canine Andy Murray in Toronto.
The 25-year-old’s reward is one other rankings rise to a recent career-high No.43 when he arrives in New York on Monday for the US Open.
But Purcell will rue in his wretched luck in Friday’s Open draw when he was pitted in opposition to fellow Sydneysider and good mate Chris O’Connell within the first spherical.
As if that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, the winner will virtually actually run into 2021 US Open champion and third seed Daniil Medvedev in spherical two.
Purcell and the 67th-ranked O’Connell, although, have been removed from the one Australians to cop unlucky attracts for the 12 months’s remaining grand slam.
A fortnight after reaching his career-best rating of forty eighth, Aleksandar Vukic will face former finalist and reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in his opener.
Australian No.2 Alexei Popyrin, the world No.40, drew a qualifier however will seemingly strike 2023 Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas within the second spherical if he progresses.
Jordan Thompson, Jason Kubler, Thanasi Kokkinakis and wildcard Rinky Hijikata are additionally projected to play seeds within the second spherical at Flushing Meadows.
Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur was assured of avoiding a seed till a minimum of spherical three after being seeded thirteenth.
De Minaur begins in opposition to a qualifier, with Chile’s world No.24 Nicolas Jarry slated to be the 2020 Open quarter-finalist’s first seeded opponent.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
