Gooch the last man standing

Chris Guccione has survived a two-hour struggle with young American Jesse Levine to be Australia's last man standing at the US Open.

The big-serving left-hander needed a pair of tight tie-breakers to progress 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (8-6).

Guccione is Australia's highest-ranked male player at the final major of the year with Lleyton Hewitt sidelined due to a hip injury.

He is now the nation's only hope after little known compatriot Carsten Ball - who was named on Wednesday in Australia's Davis Cup squad for next month's World Group play-off tie against Chile - was ousted on day one and a game Robert Smeets fell in four sets to Mardy Fish on Wednesday.

Guccione thundered down 32 aces in the battle with Levine, a 25cm shorter opponent, including one measured at 222km/h.

More impressive was his effort to keep the double fault count at three on the hard court.

Radek Stepanek, the No.28 seed from the Czech Republic, is Guccione's next assignment, with the winner of that clash scheduled to face Roger Federer in the third round.

Stepanek's best result at the US Open is a third-round appearance in 2003. He humbled Italian Potito Starace in straight sets in their opening-round encounter.