Rising star Alexei Popyrin is on yet another early collision course with defending champion Novak Djokovic as the US Open draw threw up a series of difficult encounters for Australia's considerable Flushing Meadows contingent.
A remarkable army of no less than 20 Australians will feature in the main draw after six players, including five women, battled through the final round of qualifying to also book their places at the year's final major starting on Monday.
Popyrin, the newly crowned Montreal Masters champion and 28th seed, is slated to meet Serbia's Olympic gold medallist Djokovic in the third round in what would be their third grand slam meeting this season.
