Just over 16 hours after Alexei Popyrin ousted a legend on Arthur Ashe Stadium, fellow Australian Chris O’Connell fell short in his bid to further rock the US Open to the core on Saturday.
Carlos Alcaraz had been stunned by Botic van de Zandschulp in New York on Thursday night. Popyrin knocked out Novak Djokovic 24 hours later at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre.
But there would be no shock for world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who snuffed out any hopes of another stunner with a superb opening set against the Sydneysider O’Connell on route to a 6-1 6-4 6-2 triumph in 1hr 53min.
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O’Connell, who has now reached the 3rd Rd in Flushing Meadows twice, was mindful of the enormity of the task confronting him having twice played the Italian.
He was too good for Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, when they met in Atlanta two years ago at a time when there were still a couple of rough edges to the Italian diamond.
But when they clashed in Miami earlier this year, with Sinner now heading the world rankings, the errors flew less frequently from the racquet of the player who is now the clear favourite for the US Open.
It proved a similar case on Saturday, for while O’Connell enjoyed some strong moments against Sinner in the second set, the Italian was largely saintly throughout.
He plays the winner of a clash between American No. 14 seed Tommy Paul and emerging Canadian talent Gabriel Diallo for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Australians Alex de Minaur, who plays English veteran Dan Evans in the first night session match on Louis Armstrong Stadium, and Jordan Thompson, who faces Italian Matteo Arnaldi, are scheduled to play later today at Flushing Meadows.
van de Zandschulp, meanwhile, was unable to back-up his giant-killing deeds.
He was well beaten by rising English star Jack Draper, a left-handed of immense promise who defeated Alcaraz at Queens a fortnight before the Spaniard successfully defended his Wimbledon crown.
Highlighting the fact no two tennis matches are the same, the Dutchman went from proving a world-beater on Thursday night to serving five double faults in succession across two service games on Saturday when beaten 6-4 6-3 6-2.
Draper will play Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic for a spot in the last 16.
In other third round results on Day 6 of the US Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini claimed her 18th win in a major for the year with a 6-3 6-4 win over Yulia Putintseva. Only Alcaraz has won more grand slam matches this year.
No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula continued her resurgence through the North American summer with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maniero.
She next faces Diana Shnaider, who has risen impressively up the ranking this year, was a dominant 6-2 6-2 winner over Italian veteran Sara Errani.
Former Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova continues to shine on the comeback trail. She dismissed Anastasia Potapova 6-4 6-2 in superb fashion and will play Paolini on Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
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