Alex de Minaur 'demolition' stuns tennis world amid 'absurd' US Open scenes

Australia's World No.13 Alex de Minaur has steamrolled his way into the fourth round of the US Open with a clinical thrashing of Chile's Nicolas Jarry. The 25th-ranked Chilean had no answers to the Australia's top-ranked player, who charged into the last-16 courtesy of a 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory.

De Minaur - a 2020 quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows - has only made it to the fourth round twice before but is playing some of the best tennis of his career right now. The 24-year-old Aussie dominated from start to finish to join compatriot Rinky Hijikata in the next round, where he will face either third seed Daniil Medvedev or Sebastian Baez.

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The 'Demon' made his intentions clear in a merciless opening stanza that he wrapped up in less than 30 minutes. Losing just six games across the whole match, de Minaur broke the South American six times, saved the solitary break point on his own serve and won a staggering 85 per cent of points on his first serve.

De Minaur demolition leaves tennis world in awe

De Minaur made just 10 unforced errors throughout the one hour and 44 minute demolition job on his rival, who fans described as playing 'ugly' tennis and committing an 'absurd' amount of unforced errors. Tellingly, de Minaur punished Jarry almost every time he missed a first serve, winning 19 of 27 points on the Chilean's second efforts.

“I don’t think any of us expected him to be that clinical enough to put away Jarry like that,” Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge said in commentary. Fans were also buzzing with excitement after the emphatic statement from the 13th seed.

De Minaur has lost just 10 games across his last two games combined and will need to maintain his levels of consistency in a likely fourth round blockbuster against third seed, Medvedev. De Minaur has beaten Medvedev twice in the past 10 months, including last month in straight sets en route to his maiden appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto.

That victory was de Minaur's fourth over a top-10 rival this season and, if they do clash, the 24-year-old will fancy his chances of posting another upset on Tuesday (AEST) to match his run to the 2020 quarter-finals in New York. Fellow Aussie Hijikata plays his fourth round match on Monday (AEST) against American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe.

Carlos Alcaraz title defence still on track

In other men's action in New York on Saturday, top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz powered his way into the fourth round in New York after an impressive 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win against Britain's Dan Evans. The top-seeded Spaniard looked on track for another easy victory after breezing through his opening two matches without dropping a set.

However, the Wimbledon champion was made to fight after Evans pulled a set back in the third, but the 20-year-old steadied to set up a showdown with Italy's Matteo Arnaldi in the last-16. Italian World No. 61 Arnaldi also knocked off a Brit in 16th seed Cameron Norrie, 6-3 6-4 6-3.

Jack Draper offered British fans hope as he outlasted American wildcard Michael Mmoh 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3 to book his first trip to a grand slam fourth round. He will face Russian eighth seed Andrey Rublev, who defeated France's Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.

In women's action, Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka pummelled France's Clara Burel 6-1 6-1 to book her spot in the fourth round. The Australian Open winner will next face 13th seed Daria Kasatkina, who beat Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6-3 6-4.

American 17th seed Madison Keys bounced back from a set down to defeat Russian Liudmila Samsonova, 14th seed, 5-7 6-2 6-2 to reach the fourth round. She will take on compatriot Jessica Pegula, who beat Elina Svitolina 6-4 4-6 6-2. Pegula, the No 3 seed, is still trying to advance beyond the quarter-finals of a grand slam tournament.

with agencies

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