Australian Rinky Hijikata's career-best major performance has come to an end in the fourth round of the US Open at the hands of American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe.

Hijikata was playing in the main draw of a major for just the third time, after reaching the second round at this year's Australian Open and losing his opening match against Rafael Nadal in New York last year.

The 22-year-old made it to the round of 16 before 2022 US Open semifinalist Tiafoe ended his run with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 win, leaving 13th seed Alex de Minaur as the only Australian still alive in the singles.

Hijikata will climb into the top 100 for the first time after his run in New York, meaning he will not have to rely on wildcards to get into major draws, as he has for his three slam appearances so far.

But he was given a masterclass in how much more room he has for growth by Tiafoe, who had the crowd on his side throughout the two-hour match at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Tiafoe blasted 15 aces past the Australian, who could not manage any and got his first serve in play less than half the time, allowing him to be broken seven times in the match.

Hijikata, who won the men's doubles with countryman Jason Kubler at the Australian Open this year, tried to get to the net to change things up and won 17 of his 64 points with his volleying game, but Tiafoe showed off his power with 27 clean winners.

Ranked 110th, Hijikata was a relative unknown to most of the main draw and Tiafoe acknowledged he was not sure how to approach him during a 50-minute opening set.

"I've never played him before so I was definitely feeling him out," he said after the match.