Rinky Hijikata has become the fourth Australian to advance to the second round of the US Open, joining Ajla Tomljanovic, Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint. 

Hijikata, who made it to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year, ousted Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four sets on day one of the tournament. 

Hijikata joins Alexei Popyrin in the second round, after he took a step towards a blockbuster US Open showdown with defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Popyrin lived up to his star billing to be the first Australian winner on day one at Flushing Meadows before being quickly joined in round two by exciting teenage prospect Maya Joint and 2022 women’s quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic and Hijikata.

Popyrin cruised past Kwon Soon-woo without even hitting top gear, the recently crowned Montreal Masters champion eventually progressing with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win in a tick over two hours.

Seeded for the first time at a slam, Popyrin crunched 14 aces and broke the South Korean six times while only dropping his own serve once all match.

Victory edged the 25-year-old to within one more win of a likely third-round Saturday night showstopper with the history-chasing Djokovic.

Popyrin next faces either unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez or Polish qualifier Maks Kasnikowski on Thursday (AEST).

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of scenarios in my career where I had one more match, and then I would play a big match so I’ve kind of gotten used to focusing on the match that I’ve got in hand,” Popyrin said.

“And then if I win that, then, yeah, obviously I’ve got Novak in the third.

“But, honestly, I’m just thinking of of of this match and not thinking about Novak.”

The 28th-seeded Popyrin and 18-year-old Joint led the way as Australia’s bumper 20-strong contingent made a hot start to tennis’s final slam of the year.

The much-hyped Joint certainly didn’t disappoint on her grand slam main draw debut, seeing off experienced German Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-5 to more than double her career on-court earnings in a single day.

The US-born talent overcame some second-set nerves trying to close out the most significant win of her career, letting a 5-0 lead and one match point slip at 4-5 on Siegemund’s serve.

Much to her joy and relief, Joint steadied to prevail on her fourth match point with a backhand volley winner.

Win or lose next up against American 14th seed Madison Keys or Czech Katerina Siniakova, Joint will leave Flushing Meadows at least $US130,000 ($A192,000) richer for her efforts.

Another of Australia’s record six women’s qualifiers, Kim Birrell, earlier bowed out with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic, the 24th seed.

Despite the defeat, Birrell will herself depart with a cheque for $US100,000 ($A147,575) — the biggest prize in tennis history for a first-round loser at a major.

Adam Walton was unable to follow Popyrin into the second round, succumbing 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, 6-4 to French wildcard Alexandre Muller.

US Open Australian results day one

Maya Joint def Laura Siegemund (6-4, 7-5) 

Donna Vekić def Kimberly Birrell (6-4, 6-4)

Ajla Tomljanović def Ann Li (6-4, 6-4)

Alexei Popyrin def Kwon Soon-woo (7-5, 6-2, 6-3)

Alexandre Müller def Adam Walton (3-6, 7-6 [9-7], 6-3, 6-4)

Rinky Hijikata def Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (7-6 [7-1], 3-6, 6-4, 6-3)

Aryna Sabalenka def Priscilla Hon (6-3, 6-3)

AAP