Whether it's New York, the surface or married life, Alex de Minaur can't quite pinpoint why he's landed in "a really good spot" entering his 10th US Open title tilt.
Probably because it's all of the above.
Despite only modest returns from the American hardcourt swing, de Minaur has arrived at Flushing Meadows believing "there's a big result coming soon".
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"It's been a process," Australia's sixth seed said ahead of a first-round clash with a Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri, the world No.187 .
"I wasn't too hard on myself starting in Washington. I knew it was a quick turnaround after the wedding and it was going to take a little bit of time for my game to be at a point where I'd like it to be.
"So the weeks have gone on, there's been some good stuff, not so good stuff, but it's been about being able to step back and arrive at a place where everything feels good.
"It feels a lot more natural. It's hard to describe."
From feeling like the balls were flying and impossible to handle, de Minaur reckons he suddenly has more control.
And despite notching only three wins since Wimbledon, after enjoying a "beautiful" wedding in Tuscany, the world No.7 feels ready to once again go deep at the Open.
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Probably because blissful matrimony with English sweetheart Katie Boulter seems to have mellowed a 27-year-old notorious for being his harshest critic.
"It's a place that's always treated me well over the years," the sixth seed said.
"It's where I've had a lot of my first milestone moments. I beat a top-10 opponent for the first time here. Made the fourth round, the quarter-finals for the first time here.
"It's been where my game just kind of clicks. It's the last slam of the season and I always come up to it with a lot of energy and excitement and this year is no different.
"And to be fair, I've put my head down and done a lot of hours on the court and just found those instincts, those feelings, that I've been searching for.
"I'm feeling good. I'm excited, in a really good spot, actually. So excited to get going. Back on the job."
De Minaur leads a 15-strong Australian contingent after Tristan Schoolkate and Storm Hunter successfully qualified on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Hunter swept past fourth-seeded Latvian Darja Semenistaja 6-4 6-1 in the final round of women's qualifying before Schoolkate wore down Canadian Liam Draxl 4-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) in almost three hours.
Hunter, who emerged through Flushing Meadows qualifying for the first time, joins compatriots Maya Joint, Daria Kasatkina, Kim Birrell, Talia Gibson and Taylah Preston in the women's main draw.
Schoolkate, de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, Adam Walton, Rinky Hijikata, Aleksandar Vukic, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Dane Sweeny will fly the Australian flag in the men's event.
But Sydney's Chris O'Connell made an agonising exit, forced to retire before the deciding third set of his final-round qualifying encounter with Zsombor Piros.
The 32-year-old was on the brink of making the main draw, leading 7-5 5-4 before rolling his ankle the point before trying to serve for the match in the second set against the Hungarian.
O'Connell knew his hopes all but evaporated when he landed awkwardly after putting away an overhead, immediately looking to his box in anguish before bravely battling on but having to retire after losing the second-set tiebreaker 7-3.
WHO THE AUSTRALIANS WILL FACE IN THE US OPEN FIRST ROUND (prefix denotes seeding):
Men's singles
6-Alex de Minaur v Andrea Guerrieri (ITA)
Alexei Popyrin v Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Adam Walton v Yibing Wu (CHN)
Rinky Hijikata v 3-Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
Aleksandar Vukic v Rei Sakamoto (JPN)
James Duckworth v 30-Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
Thanasi Kokkinakis v 12-Rafael Jodar (ESP)
Dane Sweeny v Corentin Moutet (FRA)
Tristan Schoolkate v Nishesh Basavareddy (USA)
Women's singles
Maya Joint v Liudmila Samsonova (RUS)
Daria Kasatkina v Paula Badosa
Kim Birrell v Petra Marcinko (CRO)
Talia Gibson v Donna Vekic (CRO)
Taylah Preston v Alycia Parks (USA)
Storm Hunter v 11-Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
This AAP article was made possible by support from Tennis Australia.
