Stepanek ends Guccione's Open

Australia's last hope at the US Open, Chris Guccione, has bowed out in the second round in New York.

Two days after seeing off American Jesse Levine in four sets to advance to the round of 32 for the first time at Flushing Meadows, Guccione was unable to repeat the effort as Czech No.28 seed Radek Stepanek prevailed 6-4 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-2.

As the only Australian male to reach the second round, and only the second Aussie to do so behind Jessica Moore, who was beaten on Thursday, Guccione staged a fightback to take the third set as rain delayed the match a couple of times.

But having given himself hope late in the third set, Guccione was unable to maintain the momentum as Stepanek regained the ascendancy and raced away in the fourth set to book a third-round meeting with world No.2 and defending champion Roger Federer.

Guccione went into the match with a 1-1 head-to-head record against Stepanek, having won their first encounter in Sydney earlier this year in three sets before going down in straight sets in Memphis.

But it was Stepanek who dominated proceedings for the majority of the clash, with his serve more consistent even though Guccione sent down 19 aces to 14, and his unforced errors count lower at 15-25 while he also converted 4-of-9 break points.