US Open Day 7 has arrived, featuring Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Lorenzo Musetti, and Frances Tiafoe on the match card. Our panelists Damian, Tope, Nurein, and Jordan offer their predictions for every match on Saturday.
Alexander Zverev vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Damian: Zverev’s won pretty much everything in his career but a Grand Slam title, so with every passing year, he has to be even more focused on performing at the Majors. While typically he’s known for leaking sets early in Majors, he’s actually managed to stay pretty solid this week. Auger-Aliassime might be too one-dimensional and predictable to beat him. Prediction: Zverev in 4
Tope: Both players have blitzed through their matches with a perfect straight sets win over their respective opponent and now go head to head for an incredible 12th time with the Canadian winning just two of them, interestingly both were on hard courts. While Zverev often bottles matches at the deepest end, he hasn’t gone deep enough to fall off the cliff, and he should find a way to win this one. Prediction: Zverev in 4
Nurein: After a year of near-misses this feels like a Grand Slam where the spotlight is far away from Zverev as the second week approaches. That could work in his favor as he doesn’t deal with the weight of expectations, especially in what will be his first difficult assignment this week. Prediction: Zverev in 4
Jordan: I expect Zverev to manage this test comfortably. The German has returned well at his last few tournaments, which is the key to beating Auger-Aliassime. He is superior from the baseline once the ball is in play. Prediction: Zverev in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Coleman Wong
Damian: What a great run for Wong, who’s writing history for Hong Kong and hopefully will use this to start producing results on a more regular basis. Rublev’s always sort of beatable as you can get used to the rhythm he’s playing in, but the base level is still extremely high. Wong might find some success intermittently, just tough to see him win in the longer format. Prediction: Rublev in 4
Tope: Coleman Wong is enjoying a remarkable debut at a Grand Slam tournament after becoming the first player from Hong Kong to secure a victory in the main draw of a major event. Moving to this stage has propelled him up 27 places in the live ranking, landing him at 146th. Rublev, a four-time US Open quarterfinalist, overcame wildcard Tristan Boyer in the third round to take his season’s tally to 31-19. Both players thrive on hard courts, but an in-form Rublev is too strong for the debutant. Prediction: Rublev in 4
Nurein: Wong is having his best Grand Slam run but this is where the reality of top-level competition will likely catch up to him. Rublev hasn’t been convincing in swatting aside his opponents, but the Russian’s power and depth should help him break through the Hong Kong native. Prediction: Rublev in 4
Jordan: Wong’s run has been one of the stories of the tournament so far. He could challenge Rublev with his defensive capabilities, but the ten-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist is still the favorite. His extra firepower should prove decisive on the quick courts. Prediction: Rublev in 4
Lorenzo Musetti vs Flavio Cobolli
Damian: Musetti isn’t at his best on hard courts and going on a run here would massively help. On this surface, he and Cobolli probably aren’t far apart at all, but he will be much fresher considering what the lower-ranked of the Italians had to go through to get to the third round. Somewhat under the radar, Musetti might make the second week. Prediction: Musetti in 4
Tope: Despite questions about his form heading to New York, Lorenzo Musetti has demonstrated impressive form this week, winning both of his matches while dropping only one set. Cobolli is enjoying another strong Slam campaign, having reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon earlier this year. Despite the challenges, he will enter this match with confidence in his potential to upset his more accomplished compatriot, and on hard courts, that possibility is more substantial. Prediction: Cobolli in 5
Nurein: Musetti was penciled as the likeliest top seed to lose in the first round, but completed one of his best victories of the season against Mpetshi Perricard. And I think at this point, he’ll be a handful. He’s got his confidence back and is playing with his usual flair. Shot for shot, he’s got more tools than countryman Cobolli. Prediction: Musetti in 4
Jordan: Both men will try to bring their forehands into play at every opportunity. Musetti has the advantage of more variety to handle his opponent’s power. That might prove the difference in a close match. Prediction: Musetti in 5
Jaume Munar vs Zizou Bergs
Damian: New and improved hard-court Munar is a much more tricky opponent than before, combining his grinding background with some underrated offensive arsenal. With Bergs advancing after Draper’s walkover but not actually playing that well of late, perhaps the Spaniard has a chance to post another milestone win and make the second week of a Slam for the first time. Prediction: Munar in 5
Tope: Munar will play in the third round at a major for the second time this year, propelling him six spots up the live ranking to 38th. Bergs enters this match as the more rested of the two players, having received a walkover in the second round after Jack Draper’s withdrawal. Both players have nearly equivalent records this season; however, Munar enters this contest in significantly better form than his Belgian opponent and is expected to come out on top eventually. Prediction: Munar in 4
Nurein: Bergs wasn’t the name we expected to see in this stage of the US Open. But he received a huge slice of good fortune with Jack Draper withdrawing from the tournament and getting a walkover. The Belgian is the natural mover on hard courts, but Munar has added a lot of attacking intent to his game this season that he’ll believe he’s got a fair chance of winning. Prediction: Munar in 5
Jordan: This is a massive opportunity for both men to reach a Grand Slam fourth round. It is a tough one to call, but I narrowly favor Bergs. He has a slightly higher ceiling, and is playing very well right now. Prediction: Bergs in 4
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
