Bernard Tomic’s US Open main draw tilt has been derailed on a day of mixed fortunes for Australia’s bulging qualifying contingent at Flushing Meadows.

The former world No.17, chasing his first main draw appearance in New York in nine years, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 by the in-form Henrique Roca in the second round on Friday (AEST).

Tomic, who in the last two years has risen about 300 ranking places to No.167 in the world, had arrived in good form and eased through his first-round assignment on Wednesday.

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A full house on court 11 were left disappointed though when the mercurial 32-year-old fell away sharply after losing a tight first set to the 21-year-old, world No.166 from Portugal.

Still, if Tomic’s Challenger Tour form holds up, he will earn an automatic qualifying berth for next year’s Australian Open, or potentially gain direct entry if he can sneak back inside the world’s top-100 for the first time in eight years.

Tomic wasn’t alone in his struggles with Astra Sharma, James McCabe, Olivia Gadecki, Lizette Cabrera and Maddison Inglis all falling at the second hurdle.

But the big-hitting Destanee Aiava, Priscilla Hon and Jason Kubler are all through to the final round, while McCabe was pipped by countryman James Duckworth in a tense 7-5 5-7 7-6 (10-5) battle.

And former world junior No.1 Emerson Jones made it five Australians into the third round when she dispatched Brazil’s Laura Pigossi 6-4 6-4 in 90 minutes.

Jones, still just 17, reached the same stage of Wimbledon qualifying and is bidding for her first major main-draw appearance outside of Australia.

She’ll play Andorra’s world No.132 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva for that chance.

US Open draw

Alex de Minaur doesn’t enjoy facing fellow Australians in tournaments but the nation’s big US Open hope will have to down fellow Sydneysider Chris O’Connell as he launches his latest quest for glory at Flushing Meadows.

Yet while Thursday’s brutal draw in New York did no favours for the 13-strong Australian contingent in the tournament that starts on Sunday, Ajla Tomljanovic will surely savour the prospect of another big night date on Arthur Ashe Stadium against home superstar and former champ Coco Gauff.

De Minaur admits playing Australian friends is never fun, and out of 88 grand slam matches, he’s only had to do so twice - both last year when he beat Jordan Thompson at the US Open a couple of months after defeating James Duckworth at Wimbledon.

Both matches proved hard going and even though ‘Demon’ will again start overwhelming favourite against O’Connell, who had to withdraw from their recent Canadian Open clash with an abdominal injury, the No.8 seed will have full respect for the world No.79 who’d just beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas in Toronto.

De Minaur’s prospective route is full of pitfalls. He could meet Frenchman Hugo Gaston, who defeated him in the 2022 French Open and leads 2-0 in their head-to-head, in round two.

Then it could be Tsitsipas, who holds an incredible 11-1 career advantage over him, in the third round, before a last-16 date with in-form ninth seed Karen Khachanov.

If he fulfils his seeding, a quarter-final with Alexander Zverev could await and a potential semi-final with his nemesis, champion Jannik Sinner.

Sinner, who opens up against Czech Vit Kopriva, could also be a horror second-round opponent for Australian No.2 Alexei Popyrin, who faces tough Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in round one.

Alternatively, Popyrin may feel playing Sinner early is his best chance following the Italian’s illness withdrawal during Monday’s Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz.

Other Aussie men on a hiding to nothing are Adam Walton, who’s drawn flamboyant French left-hander, No.22 seed Ugo Humbert, and Rinky Hijikata, up against No.32 seed, Italian Luciano Darderi.

On the other side of the draw, Alcaraz has a daunting outing against giant American Reilly Opelka while Novak Djokovic, still dreaming of that elusive record 25th slam, tackles Learner Tien, the teenage US left-hander who knocked out Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne.

Tomljanovic looks sure to be playing on the main arena again against 2023 champion and French Open winner Gauff, the No.3 seed, just three years since the Aussie enjoyed her signature career triumph over Serena Williams, consigning the great American to defeat on Ashe in her last ever match.

Kim Birrell faces another US contender, Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova, with the winner set to face Maya Joint should the rising Australian teenage star get past a yet-to-be-decided qualifier.

Daria Kasatkina, the No.15 seed representing Australia for the first time in her 11th straight US Open, should prevail against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, but Caroline Garcia, in the second round, and Naomi Osaka, in the third, potentially lie in wait.

Defending champ and No.1 seed Aryna Sabalenka will begin against Swiss Rebeka Masarova, while Wimbledon champ, No.2 seed Iga Swiatek, fresh from winning in Cincinnati, starts against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.

Venus Williams is back at the age of 45 but faces an uphill task against No.11 seed Karolina Muchova, who’s reached the semis the past two years.

WHO THE AUSTRALIANS WILL FACE

WOMEN

15 Daria Kasatkina v Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROM)

Kim Birrell v 8 Amanda Anisimova (USA)

Ajla Tomljanovic v 3 Coco Gauff (USA)

Maya Joint v Qualifier

Talia Gibson v 28 Magdalena Frech (POL)

MEN

8 Alex de Minaur v Chris O’Connell

Alexei Popyrin v Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN)

Jordan Thompson v Corentin Moutet (FRA)

Rinky Hijikata v 32 Luciano Darderi (ITA)

Aleksandar Vukic v Jenson Brooksby (USA)

Adam Walton v 22 Ugo Humbert (FRA)

Tristan Schoolkate v Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)