Top dogs Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina have expressed relief for different reasons after saving Australia’s blushes with contrasting second-round US Open victories in New York.

As Alexei Popyrin, Adam Walton, Tristan Schoolkate and Maya Joint all crashed out, de Minaur hit the go button in a straight-sets victory over Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.

The eighth seed did not have it all his own way, de Minaur staving off 11 break points in the opening set before seizing control for a 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory on showcourt Stadium 17.

The two-time quarter-finalist was pleased to have got the job done as rain closed in on Flushing Meadows.

“The result was straightforward, but it felt like quite a complicated match,” de Minaur said.

“Had to navigate a tricky opponent who played some very good tennis at times and I just had to do my best to kind of weather the storm and use my experience and back my level over the long run.”

In an added bonus, de Minaur’s nemesis Stefanos Tsitsipas bombed out, opening up the world No.8’s draw.

Instead of facing a rival he’s lost to 11 out of 12 times, de Minaur will instead play world No.56 Daniel Altmaier for a place in the last 16 after the German ousted Tsitsipas in five sets.

While de Minaur showcased his class and electric court speed, Kasatkina had to overcome painful cramping and a dogged opponent to also avoid the Australian exodus on day five.

Kasatkina battled back from a service break down in the deciding set to live up to her 15th seeding and deny friend and former compatriot Kamilla Rakhimova a memorable 24th birthday in a two-hour, 22-minute epic at Flushing Meadows.

Kasatkina was chuffed at joining de Minaur and Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon in the last 32 with a fighting 6-2 4-6 7-5 comeback victory.

“When I was 4-1 down, I was just like, ‘Oh my God’. I also started cramping,” the world No.18 said.

“I don’t know actually how I was able to come back and win.

“My finger was cramping. My quad was cramping. I was just running on the court trying to finish as quickly as possible.

“I’m really happy with my effort today because even though I was not playing my best tennis, I was still able to get this win.”

Playing her third grand slam since switching allegiances in March, the Russian-born star looked on track for a cruisy win when leading by a set and a break.

But Kasatkina took her foot off the pedal and world No.65 Rakhimova pounced, reeling off five straight games to level the match and take control of the deciding set.

Showing true grit, though, Kasatkina stormed back to book a third-round tussle with two-time Open champion Naomi Osaka.

While Kasatkina and Hon march on, Popyrin was unable to repeat his 2024 heroics in bowing out in straight sets against top-seeded titleholder Jannik Sinner.

Triumphant over the great Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe Stadium last year, Popyrin perished 6-3 6-2 6-2 against Italy’s rampant defending champion.

“I was able to put pressure on his serve but, when push came to shove, he came up flush,” Popyrin said.

“What can I say, he stepped up when he needed to. I guess that’s why he’s No.1 in the world.”

Walton, who had enjoyed the best win of his career when defeating 22nd seed Ugo Humbert in the opening round, succumbed 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 4-6 6-4 to Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong.

Schoolkate fell to 23rd seed Alexander Bublik 6-3 6-3 6-3 in less than two hours.

Joint put up a fight against 2025 Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova before the teenage talent went down 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to the big-hitting eighth seed on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Hon has an opportunity to advance to the last 16 on Friday (Saturday AEST) against American world No.58 Ann Li.

-AAP