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Another men's top-10 player has been sent packing from the US Open, with seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas falling in the second round to a Swiss qualifier in five sets.
- Dominic Stricker is playing his third grand slam main draw at just 21 years of age
- The US Open is Tsitsipas's worst major, having never made it past the third round
- Novak Djokovic reached the third round with a straight-sets victory on the hottest day of the tournament so far
Dominic Stricker is ranked 128th in the world but took down the former Australian Open and French Open finalist 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in a four-hour match on the Grandstand Court.
Securing the victory with a forehand that just caught the baseline, Stricker raised his hands and flopped on his back to celebrate his first victory over a top-10 player in only his third grand slam appearance.
"I'm just super happy right now," the 21-year-old told the crowd.
"I came out and felt good from the first set on … I just kept playing high-level tennis."
Tsitsipas has still never advanced beyond the third round at Flushing Meadows despite appearing in two major finals, the last match of the Australian Open this year and Roland Garros in 2021.
The Greek is the second-highest seed to go down on the men's side after number four Holger Rune of Denmark lost to 63rd-ranked Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic rolled to a straight-sets victory to move into the third round on the hottest day at the tournament so far.
With high humidity and the temperature approaching 30 degrees Celsius, Djokovic eased into the third round, as did women's world number one Iga Świątek against Australian Dari Saville.
"That's why we train several hours a day in humid, hot conditions — so we can be ready for whatever awaits you on court," the second-seeded Djokovic said after a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium over 76th-ranked Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain.
"I still have the hunger," said the 36-year-old from Serbia who owns 23 grand slam titles. "I still got it."
Earlier, Coco Gauff cruised into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva.
The sixth-seeded American approached the net 18 times, winning 15 of those points, and she credited that new-found net game after struggling to beat German Laura Siegemund in three sets in the first round.
"I learned to be aggressive," 19-year-old Gauff said.
"I did well making her play off her back foot."
Gauff next faces 32nd-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium, who came back to beat American Danielle Collins 3-6, 7-6 (9), 6-1.
LoadingAP