Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has continued his breakout season with a storming second-round US Open win over Marton Fucsovics in New York.

Hijikata crushed the vastly higher-ranked Hungarian 6-1 6-2 6-1 to surge into a grand slam third round for the first time.

The 22-year-old broke Fucsovics seven times without dropping his own serve even once in a thunderous display that sets up a likely last-32 crack at Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud.

Hijikata’s watershed win came just two days after the Sydneysider was left rocked by a fatal shooting at his girlfriend’s American college, the University of North Carolina where he also spent two years studying.

He will pocket the biggest cheque of his career, a guaranteed $US191,000 ($A298,250), after eclipsing his previous best grand slam run.

That came at this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne, where he reached the second round before also claiming the doubles title, his maiden major, partnering countryman Jason Kubler.

Hijikata’s latest victory pushes his live ranking to No.92 in the world, one spot below Kubler, who was forced out in the first round with a leg injury.

– AAP