New York, USA, 6 September 2022 | Leigh Rogers

Taylah Preston has become the first Australian to progress to the third round in the US Open girls’ singles competition in more than a decade.

The 16-year-old from Perth, who is the first Australian to reach this stage in New York since a 15-year-old Ash Barty made the US Open girls’ singles semifinals in 2011, scored a 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1 victory against Kenya’s Angella Okutoyi in second-round action at Flushing Meadows today.

Preston led 6-2 5-0, before 18-year-old Okutoyi fought back to claim the second set.

But the eighth-seeded Australian recovered to dominate the deciding set and secure victory in the two-hour battle.

This matches world No.13 Preston’s career-best result at Grand Slam level, equaling her third-round run in the Roland Garros 2022 girls’ singles competition.

Preston has won matches at all four junior Grand Slam tournaments this season, also making second-round appearances at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

In girls’ doubles action, Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz teamed with Japan’s Sara Saito to record a 3-6 6-2 [10-8] victory against American combination Alanis Hamilton and Capucine Jauffret.

Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Kempenaers-Pocz suffered a three-set loss against Canada’s Kayla Cross in the first round of the girls’ singles competition.

Australian qualifier Edward Winter also lost his opening-round match in the boys’ singles competition.

Aussies in action – US Open

TODAY’S RESULTS
Girls’ singles, second round
[8] Taylah Preston (AUS) d Angella Okutoyi (KEN) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1

Girls’ singles, first round
Kayla Cross (CAN) d Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (AUS) 6-2 3-6 7-5

Boys’ singles, first round
Alexander Blockx (BEL) d [Q] Edward Winter (AUS) 6-2 6-4

Girls’ doubles, first round
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (AUS)/Sara Saito (JPN) d Alanis Hamilton (USA)/Capucine Jauffret (USA) 3-6 6-2 [10-8]

Boys’ doubles, first round
Paul Inchauspe (FRA)/Cooper Williams (USA) d Jeremy Jin (AUS)/Gerard Campana Lee (KOR) 7-6(3) 6-1

COMING UP
Girls’ singles, third round
[8] Taylah Preston (AUS) v [10] Alexandra Eala (PHI)

> VIEW: US Open 2022 girls’ singles draw

Boys’ doubles, first round
Edward Winter (AUS)/Togan Tokac (TUR) v Patrick Brady (GBR)/William Jansen (GBR)

> VIEW: US Open 2022 boys’ doubles draw

Girls’ doubles, first round
[3] Taylah Preston (AUS)/Liv Horde (USA) v Anastasiya Lopata (UKR)/Mia Slama (USA)

Girls’ doubles, second round
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (AUS)/Sara Saito (JPN) v TBC

> VIEW: US Open 2022 girls’ doubles draw

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