British number one Jack Draper set up a likely US Open third-round tie with Carlos Alcaraz after beating Argentinian Facundo Diaz Acosta, but Katie Boulter fell to a frustrating defeat.
Draper, who enjoys playing on the American hard courts having made it to the fourth round in New York last year, was far too good for Diaz Acosta, winning 6-4 6-2 6-2.
But he will have his work cut out matching last year's run as Alcaraz is likely to be waiting in the next round. The Spaniard, who has won the last two grand slams, faces Dutchman Botic van De Zanschulp in the early hours of Friday.
Draper was in control from the off against the world number 64. A break in the third game of the match put him on his way and it was plain sailing from there, hitting 29 winners and forcing 20 more errors in a routine win.
Boulter, meanwhile, accepted she did not have the winning mentality during her "horrendous" straight-sets defeat to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
"I'll be expecting a very different Carlos Alcaraz" 👀
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) August 29, 2024
Jack Draper on the prospect of a potential third round match with Carlos Alcaraz 🍿 pic.twitter.com/tXthFunC25
The British number one had said it was time for her to start producing deep runs at grand slams after her opening-round win on Tuesday, but it will not be in New York this year.
Boulter was outplayed throughout her 7-5 7-5 defeat to the world number 74 to end British interest in the women's draw. She was heard saying to her team on courtside that "everything was horrendous" as her best game deserted her.
"I feel like I played that match not wanting to lose rather than trying to win," Boulter said.
"That's something that I have to remind myself of, that I'm here to win. I'm not just trying to get through a match. And I think when I'm more positive with myself and my game, that's when I'm winning matches.
She added: "I have to win these matches. It's a no-brainer for me to progress in a tournament, you have to win the second round.
"So to get into the third round, you got to win the second and to get in the fourth, you got to win the third. So I have to win that match. But I also don't want to put too much pressure on myself.
"I can sit here and and say, 'I'm trying to get a run in a grand slam, and I'm pushing myself in these moments', but at the same time, I'm trying not to put too much emphasis on it, because you can kind of start thinking about just winning the match instead of the actual process of it.”
