Alex de Minaur has surged into the US Open second week for a fifth time with a business-like win over wounded German Daniel Altmaier.
Australia’s last player standing once more, De Minaur recovered from a set down to progress after Altmaier retired injured when the Demon was leading 6-7 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 2-0 on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Altmaier had battled for more than four hours and saved a match point in an epic third-round triumph over Stefanos Tsitsipas and fought valiantly to back up.
But energetic De Minaur was a man on a mission and pounced after his sapped opponent required two medical time-outs to treat a thigh strain.
Once down two sets to one, Altmaier looked a man resigned to defeat and Australia’s eighth seed moved in for the kill.
A model of consistency, De Minaur has now made the last 16 at eight of the past nine grand slams.
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“The first thing that comes to my mind is my (second-round) loss at French Open. That one still haunts me. But, no, obviously, it’s the results doing the talking,” De Minaur said.
“It’s a great stat to have. It shows my consistency, what I pride myself in is showing up every single day.
“I can have some good days or bad days on the tennis court but, ultimately, I’m still going to go out there competing and fighting till the very last point.
“Yeah I’m very happy with that stat, and now it’s about taking it to the next level. You know, breaking some new barriers. That’s the goal.”
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The 26-year-old has a huge opportunity to make the Open quarter-finals for a third time when he faces Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi, the world No 435, in the fourth round.
De Minaur is the lone Australian left in the singles after women’s 15th seed Daria Kasatkina lost her third-round clash with two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-0 4-6 6-3.
Cheered on as an adopted favourite by the New York crowd, Japan’s Osaka set up a fourth-round contest with Coco Gauff.
But for Russian-born Kasatkina, the 15th seed, hoping to reach the fourth round in her 11th crack at the US Open but in only her third grand slam this season under the Australian flag, there was little to cheer after she got fed a “bagel” with her 6-0 trouncing in the opening set on Saturday.
Her fightback to win the second stanza did feel redoubtable after she had been so completely outplayed early on, but in a match that always felt as it was on the more powerful Japanese’s racquet, the four-time major champ Osaka regrouped to take victory after one hour and 44 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.