Well, that was quick. Discussions of bubbles continue, but now at least some talk shifts to Grand Slam play. After over five months of no competitive tennis, best of five sets competition returned at the US Open. And on day one in New York seven matches went the distance. Now, seven players head into Wednesday’s play coming off of their first five-set match in a very long time. But how will each respond?
The Matchups in the US Open Second Round
Cristian Garin vs Mikhail Kukushkin – Garin dropped the first two sets before storming back to knock out American Ulises Blanch in just over three hours. While Kukushkin cruised in straight sets, 13th seed Garin will likely prove too much for him in the second round.
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Mitchell Krueger – After dropping the third set 6-1, the Spaniard Carreno Busta rallied to take the final two sets, both by a score of 6-3. Carreno Busta, seeded 20th, should be able to rally himself to knock off world #198 Mitchell Krueger who advanced to the second round in four sets.
Steve Johnson vs Ricardas Berankis – On paper, Johnson drops a step down in competition in the second round. Johnson and another would be US Open crowd favorite, John Isner, needed to muster their own energy in a tough five setter on Monday night. Johnson outlasted the 16th seed Isner in a fifth-set tiebreak to reach the second round.
Johnson, the world #64, will again have to imagine the support of the American fans in his bout with world #65 Berankis. Though the players are almost tied in the world rankings Johnson and the ghosts of fans of US Open past will be too much for Berankis.
Cameron Norrie vs Federico Coria – Amazingly, Norrie overcame long odds to come back from a 2-0 deficit in sets to defeat ninth seed Diego Schwartzman in almost four hours. Coria’s opener also went to five sets, but opponent Jason Jung retired at 0-2 in the fifth. Jung previously held a 2-0 lead in sets. Despite going nearly four hours, Norrie should be too much for Coria, who advanced with a little help from the injury bug.
Marcos Giron vs Filip Krajinovic – Playing on home soil but to empty stands, Giron rallied from a 2-1 deficit in sets to zoom past Australian Marc Polmans. The American dropped only six games in the final two sets which has earned the world #96 a shot at the 26th seed Filip Krajinovic. The Serbian showed a mix of powerful groundstrokes and a nice touch to knock off Sweden’s Mikael Ymer in three straight sets. Krajinovic’s skill will be too much for Giron.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Hubert Hurkacz – World #99 Davidovich Fokina dropped the third set of his first-round encounter with Dennis Novak 1-6. But in the fourth, the Spaniard yanked back the momentum, then poured it on to take the deciding set 6-0, dropping only nine points in the entire set. Meanwhile, the seeded Hurkacz needed less than two hours in his first round straight set cruise. Despite great final set play against Novak, Davidovich Fokina will not be enough to stop the talented Hurkacz.
Jack Sock vs Adrian Mannarino – Currently ranked #389 and once ranked #8, Sock arrives in the second round as more of an enigma and feel good story than any other five set survivor. Despite health and fitness challenges in recent years, Sock toppled Pablo Cuevas in a fifth-set tiebreaker after seeing a 2-1 lead in sets evaporate. Without fans, Sock will compete fiercely, but eventually bow to the seeded Frenchman.
Survivors Will Survive Again
Two of the seven five set winners are seeded. Three of the unseeded survivors will find seeded players across the net. Despite the lack of crowds, the intensity and reality of playing in the US Open will increase on Day 3. Despite longer and tougher first-round matches, along with managing bubble life, look for the majority of five set winners to continue their winning play. Ready, or not play.
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