The 2019 US Open men’s singles draw is out and we will be examining some first round matchups that stand out. Young prospects, soon-to-retire veterans, seeds in jeopardy, draw conspiracy theories all belong in this piece.
Ћао Janko!
Denis Kudla vs Janko Tipsarevic
The Serbian announced on Thursday that he would retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2019 season. Hence, the US Open will be his final Slam. It’s always sad to bid adieu to a former Top 10 player, but it’s also must-see TV. Actually, Tipsarevic received a favorable matchup against Kudla, who’s enduring a lackluster campaign. Don’t rule the ex No. 8 out. We could witness an all-Serbian first round (Laslo Djere-Miomir Kecmanovic), second round (Tipsarevic-Dusan Lajovic) and third round (Tipsarevic/Lajovic-Novak Djokovic). Will Filip Krajinovic emerge as a surprising finalist from the bottom half? OK, enough Serbian propaganda. Let’s move on to more realistic stuff.
Watchability Index: 7/10
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Welcome to the show, kiddos!
Stan Wawrinka vs Jannik Sinner
Two years ago, Sinner was lurking on the outskirts of the Top 300… of the junior ITF rankings. Exactly 12 months ago, the Italian boasted an 1159 ATP ranking after reaching his first $15K Futures final. Fast forward 52 weeks and Sinner is the youngest player to qualify for a Grand Slam since Borna Coric at the 2014 US Open. The current World No. 131 is 45-17 on the year. His accomplishments include: two Challenger titles on hard (one indoor, one outdoor), a Challenger final on clay, a $25K Futures title on hard, a $25K Futures title on clay, three tour level main draw wins on clay and successfully qualifying for Lyon (clay), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (grass) and the US Open (hard). Consequently, the hype is off the charts right now.
Anything short of winning 30 Grand Slams would be deemed a failure. Sinner’s shotmaking ability is second to none, but it’s his movement what has drastically come along since early 2019. Wawrinka, while not at his best lately, is such a tough debut for the Italian.
Watchability Index: 10/10
(LL)Paolo Lorenzi vs Zachary Svajda
Although it’s via wild card, Svajda will become the first player born in 2002 to play a Grand Slam main draw. The 16-year-old earned his ticket to Flushing Meadows when he won the national U-18 championship at Kalamazoo earlier this month. He won it rather impressively, dropping just two sets in seven matches. However, Svajda has not done much damage on the ITF Pro Circuit this year, collecting only two main draw wins in eight events. Facing a two-time Major finalist like Kevin Anderson was going to be complicated for the youngster. Svajda is now due to grind it out with the ageless Lorenzi. A competitive match is not out of the picture.
Watchability Index: 6/10
Tomas Berdych vs Jenson Brooksby
Speaking of Kalamazoo, Brooksby obtained the national title in 2018. Accordingly, he received a US Open main draw wild card, but was dismantled by John Millman 6-4 6-2 6-0. The California native was too raw back then. This time around, Brooksby has looked impressive throughout the qualifying rounds, upsetting Kaichi Uchida, Yuichi Sugita and Pedro Martinez Portero. Will he still play for Baylor University in the spring should he defeat an over-the-hill Berdych?
Watchability Index: 8/10
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Is there an ambulance nearby?
Filip Krajinovic vs Cedrik-Marcel Stebe
These two belong in the Injurability Hall of Fame, along with Juan Martin del Potro, Bryan Baker, Joachim Johansson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and many others whose careers have been derailed by physical woes. His shocking run to the Gstaad final notwithstanding, Stebe has had an abysmal season. Meanwhile, Krajinovic had a phenomenal first half of 2019 but has cooled down since Roland Garros. The Serb retired from his clash with Frances Tiafoe at Winston-Salem.
Watchability Index: 6/10
Who was the favorite, again?
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Marton Fucsovics
Fact or fiction? The US Open first round will be the fifth meeting between Basilashvili and Fucsovics…this season alone. Clashing five times in a year may not sound excessive for high-caliber rivalry like Fedal or Rafole, but these two aren’t reaching final rounds on a consistent basis. Heck, the aforementioned Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov, who appear to play each other every other tournament, have never played more than three times in a single campaign. Anyway, the answer is fact. The Hungarian leads the 2019 head-to-head 3-1 and the overall one 5-2.
Watchability Index: 7/10
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Matteo Berrettini vs Richard Gasquet
Here’s another reminder that things can change quickly in tennis. One of the most improved players on tour this year, Berrettini is a walking enigma entering the US Open. Ever since his no-show loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, the Italian has only participated in one tournament, falling to clay-courter Juan Ignacio Londero in Cincinnati. Not a good sign. Contrarily, Gasquet’s arrow is pointing up. The Frenchman, following a lengthy absence, returned to the tour in Madrid, although quite out of rhythm. Progress was slow at first, but Gasquet finally managed to create positive momentum during the North American summer swing, picking up six Masters 1000 wins between Montreal and Cincinnati.
Watchability Index: 6/10
Sascha loves drama
Alexander Zverev vs Radu Albot
The last time Zverev played a competitive match, he double faulted a whopping 20 times. The reigning World Tour Finals champion needs to clean this up if he wants to avoid another premature Slam exit. Albot is a pesky counterpuncher who preys on struggling big hitters. Ask Marin Cilic, who was ousted by the Moldovan in Cincinnati. The outcome of this match is on Zverev’s racket. The German owns the tools to overpower Albot, but he has imploded numerous times this year, so this will match will probably end up being a drama-filled five-setter.
Watchability Index: 7/10
Do not miss under any circumstance
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andrey Rublev
In case you forgot: tennis is volatile. A couple months ago, Rublev was smashing rackets (well, that probably won’t change), stuck in qualifying draws, and losing to the likes of Thiago Monteiro, Paul Jubb, Mats Moraing, Peter Gojowczyk, or Marc Polmans. The Russian’s confidence was at an all-time low. Injuries took a deep toll on him. On the other hand, Tsitsipas ended the clay season as the safest bet to dethrone the Big 3. Before turning 21, the Greek had already defeated each member of the Holy Triad at least once. No matter how talented Rublev is, had this match happened at Roland Garros, Tsitsipas would have picked him apart.
However, Tsitsipas is currently stuck in a lengthy slump, having lost in the first round in three of his last four appearances, whereas Rublev’s game has been clicking for weeks. Their rivalry goes back to 2014 when they split two junior duels. In 2017, Rublev saved two match points at the Quimper Challenger semis. Lastly, at the 2018 Next Gen Finals, Tsitsipas obtained a hard-fought victory in five sets. All signs point to a thrilling battle between two former No. 1 juniors at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Watchability Index: 10/10
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Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Denis Shapovalov
Last year, when they embraced at the net following Auger-Aliassime’s retirement, Shapovalov told his friend they’d be playing finals at the US Open in the future. Nobody expected a first round rematch in 2019, especially considering Auger-Aliassime’s breakout season. Yet, Shapovalov’s catastrophic spring and summer made it possible.
Similarly to Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime played his best tennis prior to Wimbledon. And like Zverev, the second serve is the 19-year-old’s Achilles heel. Double faults have betrayed him on several occasions this season. In order to become a top player, that must be fixed. Remember: “You are only as good as your second serve.” In turn, Shapovalov remains a player of peaks and valleys. Hopefully he attains more consistency under Mikhail Youzhny’s guidance. Early results at the Winston-Salem 250 were promising.
Watchability Index: 10/10
Murderer’s row
Daniil Medvedev vs Prajnesh Gunneswaran
Roger Federer vs Sumit Nagal
Why did the only two Indian representatives in the men’s main draw receive nearly impossible matchups? Did they murder a cow or something? Apparently Nagal really wanted a chance to play Federer. A $58,000 paycheck before taxes is nothing to complain about, but the odds of advancing are nearly non-existent. Nagal prefers an unforgettable experience rather than the money. Good for him. On the other hand, I’m sure Gunneswaran did not grow up dreaming to face Medvedev, the strongest player during the North American summer swing. Tennis Abstract’s US Open forecast gives Nagal and Gunneswaran a 0.5% and 2.9% chance of upsetting their behemoth opponents.
Watchability Index: 7/10
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Turn on your sarcasm receptor, please
Pablo Cuevas vs Jack Sock
Why are fans so pumped about Serena Williams versus Maria Sharapova when there’s a Cuevas-Sock on schedule as well? I honestly don’t get it.
Cuevas’ last main draw win on hard court dates back to the Australian Open, while Sock’s took place a full ten months ago at the Paris Masters 1000. This could be epic. Why is it hidden on Court 12? The organization is clueless!
Watchability Index: 6/10
Main Photo from Getty.
