New York, United States, 26 August 2019 | tennis.com.au

Twelve Australian players — six men and six women — will take to the courts from Monday 26 August for the US Open.

Many of them have enjoyed a solid build-up to the year’s final Grand Slam event, with Alex de Minaur winning the Atlanta title and Nick Kyrgios triumphing the following week in Washington DC before Ash Barty advanced to the semifinals in Cincinnati.

We bring you a snapshot of the Australian contingent’s form on North American hard courts leading up to the US Open, as well as how each player has fared in the draw.

ASH BARTY

Rank/seed: 2/2
R1 opponent: Diyas (ranked No.77)
Projected draw: R3 v (30) Sakkari, R4 v (14) Kerber, QF v (8) S.Williams
Summer hard-court season W/L: 3-2
Best result: SF Cincinnati
Thoughts: “I’ve seen my first round is with Zarina and that’s all I’ve literally looked at. I didn’t even bother looking at the rest of the draw.”

READ MORE: Barty ‘super relaxed’ for US Open

NICK KYRGIOS

Rank/seed: 29/28
R1 opponent: Johnson (ranked No.82)
Projected draw: R3 v [8] Tsitsipas, R4 v [10] Bautista Agut, QF v [4] Thiem
Summer hard-court season W/L: 7-2
Best result: Won Washington DC 

ALEX DE MINAUR

Rank/seed: 36/unseeded
R1 opponent: Herbert (ranked No.45)
Projected draw: R2 v [31] Garin, R3 v [7] Nishikori
Summer hard-court season W/L: 6-3
Best result: Won Atlanta
Thoughts: “I’m pumped. I love the atmosphere here. I feel like the crowd wants someone who will leave it all out there and, if you can get the crowd on your side, it’s almost like playing at home.”

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC

Rank/seed: 48/unseeded
R1 opponent: Bouzkova (ranked No.55)
Projected draw: R2 v [21] Kontaveit, R3 v [13] Bencic
Summer hard-court season W/L: 2-2
Best result: Qualified for Toronto
Thoughts: “I’ve never played her before but I know she’s been playing well lately. Don’t know too much about her but I did some research … I think it’s gonna be a great match.”

JORDAN THOMPSON

Rank/seed: 55/unseeded
R1 opponent: Sousa (ranked No.43)
Projected draw: R2 v [24] Berrettini, R3 v [10] Bautista Agut
Summer hard-court season W/L: 2-4
Best result: R3 Washington DC
Thoughts: “I don’t want to come here and just go out first round. They’re all tough matches but I do want to go on a run. I’ve been playing some good tennis, up around the 50-mark, so I just want to keep pushing forward.”

JOHN MILLMAN

Rank/seed: 61/unseeded
R1 opponent: Nadal (ranked No.2)
Projected draw: R2 v Kokkinakis
Summer hard-court season W/L: 4-5
Best result: QF Winston-Salem
Thoughts: “It’s not easy … the last three matches I’ve played at the US Open have been against probably three of the greatest ever. It’s not unchartered waters; I’ve played against some of these good guys before. Obviously really tough. Wasn’t the most welcome news when I was in Winston-Salem, but it is what it is, and I’ll be ready to go.”

READ MORE: US Open draw — Millman to face Nadal

DARIA GAVRILOVA

Rank/seed: 84/unseeded
R1 opponent: Ferro (ranked No.72)
Projected draw: R2 v [14] Kerber
Summer hard-court season W/L: 0-0
Best result: Did not play a North American hard-court event
Thoughts: “I’m not going to take anything out of that (loss to Ferro on grass in Eastbourne in June) … Seriously, I’m not. Different surface, different everything. I wasn’t all mentally there. I think this court here is really nice. I think it suits most players and I’ve been hitting the ball well.”

ASTRA SHARMA

Rank/seed: 95/unseeded
R1 opponent: Linette (ranked No.80)
Projected draw: R2 v [1] Osaka
Summer hard-court season W/L: 3-3
Best result: Qualified for Cincinnati
Thoughts: “Definitely on the upward trend; got a lot of matches on hard court under my belt and I’ve been playing I feel better every tournament. So going into this I’m pretty optimistic. Magda’s having a good run and playing some pretty good tennis, so that’s actually pretty good because I feel like I’m doing pretty well, as well, so it’ll be good.”

ALEXEI POPYRIN

Rank/seed: 106/unseeded
R1 opponent: Delbonis (ranked No.68)
Projected draw: R2 v [10] Bautista Agut
Summer hard-court season W/L: 4-5
Best result: QF Atlanta
Thoughts: “I think I play some of my best tennis at Grand Slams which is a really big help; I haven’t lost in the first round of a Grand Slam this year so hopefully I can continue doing that. And it’s definitely great playing in New York and finally getting in playing the main draw. So it’ll be fun.”

PRISCILLA HON

Rank/seed: 129/unseeded (lucky loser)
R1 opponent: Gasparyan (ranked No.60)
Projected draw: R2 v [16] Konta
Summer hard-court season W/L: 5-4
Best result: QF Vancouver ITF 100K
Thoughts: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself but at the end of the day I don’t have anything to lose — I went out and practised what I need to do against Gasparyan and I’ll just give it my best shot and see how it goes.”

SAM STOSUR

Rank/seed: 132/unseeded (wildcard)
R1 opponent: Alexandrova (ranked No.43)
Projected draw: R2 v [33] Zhang
Summer hard-court season W/L: 0-1
Best result: Fell in R1 Bronx qualifying in only hard-court event
Thoughts: “Hopefully (I can make a little run here). I haven’t seen the draw — I know obviously I’m playing Alexandrova, she beat me at the French in three. I watched that match the other night again to refresh my memory a little bit and was like, oh I actually played pretty good that day. I know what’s ahead of me, and I know if I play good tennis then I’m going to give myself every chance.”

THANASI KOKKINAKIS

Rank/seed: 203/unseeded (wildcard)
R1 opponent: Ivashka (ranked No.143)
Projected draw: R2 v [2] Nadal
Summer hard-court season W/L: 9-3 (7-2 at Challenger level)
Best result: QF Los Cabos
Thoughts: “Body feels good. Now I’m back playing and I haven’t really felt it (the pec injury) since then. I haven’t played five sets since I can remember … I’ve had two five-setters here, of which I’ve both had them in the palm of my hands. But I see no reason why not. I don’t think I’ve lost any matches since I’ve come back due to fitness. I feel good, I’ve prepared well — I think as well as I can.”