Surprise new Australian No.3 Max Purcell has continued his red-hot run to storm into the final 16 on the US Open lead-in occasion in North Carolina.
Purcell powered previous American qualifying fortunate loser Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4 6-1 to guide a third-round date on the Winston-Salem Open with Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
The 25-year-old Sydneysider crunched down eight aces and broke Kuznetsov’s serve 4 occasions to sail by in a single hour neat on Wednesday (AEST).
After upsetting world No.7 Casper Ruud and three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka in final week’s run to the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open earlier than falling in three units to the top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, Purcell soared to a career-high forty seventh within the rankings.
He is now assured one other rise on Monday when the season’s closing grand slam will get underneath means in New York.
Purcell will arrive at Flushing Meadows within the type of his life having gained 9 of his previous 11 matches – overwhelmed solely by Alcaraz and in Toronto to triple grand slam champion and former world No.1 Andy Murray.
Fellow in-form Australian Aleksandar Vukic will bid to affix Purcell within the third spherical later in opposition to Frenchman Luca van Assche, whereas US Open wildcard Rinky Hijikata takes on event prime seed, world No.29 Borna Coric of Croatia.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
