We here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for 24 matches on day, including Novak Djokovic vs Damir Dzumhur, Denis Shapovalov vs Sebastian Korda, Reilly Opelka vs David Goffin, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Albert Ramos and Alexander Zverev vs Kevin Anderson. Americans Steve Johnson and John Isner will make it an All-American start to the 2020 US Open in New York. Yesh Ginsburg and Damian Kust offer their predictions.
Steve Johnson vs John Isner
Yesh: This battle of former college standouts could be a fun one, but it’s hard to go against Isner in the toss-up matches. Isner in 4
Damian: It’s a very rare thing to say but in the battle of these two Americans, it’s actually Isner who has the better backhand. Johnson moves better but his serve is way less deadly and there should be a lot more play on his delivery. Isner clearly likes the faster conditions here and can be in for a good run at the US Open this year. Isner in 3
Borna Coric vs Pablo Andujar
Yesh: Borna Coric is the better player right now, but he can be inconsistent. Still, on a faster court I think he has the advantage over Andujar. Coric in 4
Damian: Neither of them is really at their best at the moment, but Coric should be a lot more match ready on hard courts. Andujar played mostly on clay during the pandemic, while the Croat lost a decently tight game to David Goffin last week. Coric should win this match that will most likely be a baseline grindfest. Coric in 4
Dusan Lajovic vs Egor Gerasimov
Yesh: Lajovic is riding on his ranking earned on clay over a year ago. Does Gerasimov have the game to beat him? I’m not sure, but expect a close one. Lajovic in 5
Damian: Dusan Lajovic is heavily overranked at the moment, following last year’s clay-court season. The Serbian is a solid-enough baseliner but he is in for a tough one here. Gerasimov has been on the rise in the past couple of years (runner-up in Pune in February) and should feel at home on the medium-fast courts. Gerasimov in 5
Christian Garin vs Ulises Blanch
Yesh: Garin is the better player and should carry this through pretty easily. Garin in 3
Damian: The American wildcard will make his main tour debut here, having achieved quite a bit of success on the lower tours. Everyone being rusty might help Blanch to make it close here, although the home soil aspect won’t be of much help as the tournament is played without a crowd. But Garin still looked decent enough against Bedene last week to make me believe he’ll come through, but it won’t be straightforward. Garin in 4
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