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AAP
AAP

Vukic leads Aussie ATP charge at Winston-Salem

With the US Open looming, Aleksandar Vukic has reached the third round at the Winston-Salem Open. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Aleksandar Vukic has led the Australian charge into the third round of the ATP Tour event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In promising form ahead of the US Open which gets underway next week, the world No.94 defeated fourth seed and 2022 champion Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-1 in a tick over two hours on Monday.

Joining the 28-year-old in the last 32 is fellow Sydneysider Rinky Hijikata after the 14th seed overcame another Frenchman, Arthur Cazaux, 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

In his first meeting with 36-year-old Mannarino, Vukic fired down 15 aces and hit 31 winners as he overcame the 42nd-ranked left-hander.

He will next face Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko or Pablo Carrena Busta of Spain for a place in the last 16, while world No.65 Hijikata will take on either top-seeded Argentine Sebastien Baez or Borna Coric of Croatia.

Meanwhile, Chris O'Connell won his opening-round clash against American qualifier Strong Kirchheimer 7-5 6-4, but fellow Aussie Tristan Schoolkate suffered a 3-6 6-2 6-3 loss to local Learner Tien.

There were also wins for Belgian veteran David Goffin, lucky loser Zachary Svajda of the US and China's NextGen star Shang Juncheng.

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