As ever, the great Novak Djokovic, who faces Juan Ignacio Londero, and Roger Federer, who will face Damir Dzumhur, will command the majority of the attention on day three at the US Open. But there will be no shortage of entertaining action elsewhere around the grounds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, including Daniil Medvedev’s clash with Hugo Dellien and Kei Nishikori’s clash with home hope Bradley Klahn. Offering their predictions for this slate of matches are Jim Smith, Yesh Ginsburg, and Jack Rossiter-Munley.
Gregoire Barrere vs David Goffin
Jim: Barrere’s win over Cameron Norrie, which he sealed in a fifth-set tiebreak, was one of the most exciting of the first round. But up against a David Goffin who has rediscovered his form after impressive runs to the last eight at Wimbledon and the final in Cincinnati, it is hard to see a path to victory for the 25-year-old Frenchman.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Jack: Goffin, finalist at the Cincinnati Masters, should easily dispatch his lower-ranked opponent. Goffin’s clean baseline play is well suited to hard courts and after two years of injury and poor form, he’s making his way back to the top of the game.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Yesh: Barrere won a wild back and forth match with Cameron Norrie in the first round. That doesn’t bode well against the usually solid Goffin, who was surprisingly not solid for part of his opening match as well. Expect him to put that right in this one.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
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Jeremy Chardy vs Stan Wawrinka
Jim: Jeremy Chardy probably benefitted somewhat from Hubert Hurkacz’s fatigue after the Pole’s win in Winston-Salem, but he put in an impressive performance to win in five all the same. However, he seems destined to struggle against the power of Stan Wawrinka. If the Swiss can regularly engage Chardy in backhand-to-backhand rallies, this should be a reasonably comfortable day for the three-time Major champion.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4
Jack: Wawrinka won the US Open in 2016 by bullying Novak Djokovic in four blistering sets. No player is safe when facing the free-swinging Swiss. Wawrinka has never lost to Chardy and his lackluster results on hard courts in 2019 belie the strength of the players he lost to.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4
Yesh: Wawrinka willed himself to a tough win over the fast rising youngster Jannik Sinner, and his reward is Chardy, who just pulled off an upset win over Winston-Salem champion Hurkacz in the first round. This should be a tough match, but I think the Swiss is finding his form and should prove too strong for Chardy.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Paolo Lorenzi
Jim: Lucky loser Paolo Lorenzi took full advantage of his good fortune by edging out 16-year-old wild card Zachary Svajda in the first round. But the Italian veteran is not the force he once was. 19-year-old Miomir Kecmanovic, in contrast, has had an excellent season and could be primed for a deep run at the US Open. Expect him to prove too strong for Lorenzi.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
Jack: Lorenzi fought through a five set battle to reach the second round of the US Open. He also had to play three qualifying matches. While Kecmanovic strolled to victory yesterday over Laslo Djere 6-2, 6-1, 7-5, Lorenzi has been on court every other day for a week. Kecmanovic’s two matches in Winston-Salem don’t compare to the competition that Lorenzi has been immersed in. The wilting Lorenzi will be bested by the fresher Kecmanovic, but not without a fight.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 4
Yesh: Kecmanovic is a talented youngster rising to his peak, who has had an excellent summer on the North American hard courts, and he gets a tired and ageing Lorenzi coming off a brutal five-setter. This won’t be a fun match for fan of the Italian.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
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Kei Nishikori vs Bradley Klahn
Jim: Kei Nishikori made a fast start to his US Open campaign after Marco Trungelliti’s retirement trailing 1-6 1-4, one he will be eager to continue after being handed a reasonably favourable draw. The conditions in New York seem to suit the Japanese’s game and he should have the defensive skills and accuracy to blunt Bradley Klahn’s challenge, despite the American’s impressive 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over Thiago Monteiro.
Prediction: Nishikori in 4
Jack: Nishikori famously wins inexplicably challenging matches in the first week of a grand slam only to arrive tired for his quarterfinal against strong opposition. After a first round route of an unwell Marco Trungelliti, Nishikori can extend his economical victory streak against untested American Bradley Klahn. Nishikori’s speed and accuracy should overwhelm Klahn, but Nishikori in the first week of a slam is never a sure bet.
Prediction: Nishikori in 3
Jim: Klahn looked really strong in his opening match. And he might just be able to challenge Nishikori in this one, particularly as the Japanese man has a habit of throwing away sets against inferior players at the Majors.
Prediction: Nishikori in 5
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