The US Open kicks off on Monday with a whopping 32 men’s matches on Day 1. It should be an incredible day of tennis action and–as always–we here at LWOT want to share our thoughts on every match with you. We split the 32 matches between eight articles. In addition to this article, our other articles feature Novak Djokovic vs Radu Albot, Frances Tiafoe vs Aleksandar Kovacevic, Ben Shelton vs Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils vs Diego Schwartzman, Alexander Zverev vs Maximilian Marterer, Taylor Fritz vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli, and Andrey Rublev vs Thiago Seyboth Wild. Predicting these matches are Ateet Shrivastava, Damian Kust, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will reach Round 2?
US Open Day 1 Men’s Predictions
Mitchell Krueger vs Hugo Grenier
Ateet:
Both these players have come through qualifying and have an equal chance to get the win here. Hugo Grenier is in better form coming into this match with loads of match wins on the Challenger Tour. It’s a toss-up.
Prediction: Grenier in 5
Damian:
What a season it’s been for Krueger as last year he didn’t even get a qualifying wild card for New York, but now he made it back on ranking after two Challenger trophies and was stellar in his campaign to join the main draw last week. Grenier’s big serve/good defense mix is quite tricky for the American, but the form and confidence are there.
Prediction: Krueger in 5
Yesh:
Hugo Grenier is a better player overall, but Krueger has done a lot on courts similar to this recently. Maybe the American crowd can help Krueger here, but I expect Grenier to have the slightest of edges.
Prediction: Grenier in 5
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Luca Nardi
Ateet:
Roberto Bautista Agut has been a brilliant performer on Tour for the last 10 years but he is not the player he once was. However, he can still hold his own against lower-ranked players. Luca Nardi has lost five consecutive matches and is still searching for a meaningful win since beating Novak Djokovic. Nardi has the potential but it’s tough to trust him at the moment.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 4
Damian:
That Indian Wells win over Novak Djokovic was supposed to change things completely for Nardi, but the Italian is actually on a losing streak now (and also retired in his most recent match in Washington). His game hasn’t reached main tour quality yet and it might be tough for him to take down a veteran like Bautista Agut.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 4
Yesh:
Roberto Bautista Agut hasn’t been at his best for a few years now, but he’s still really good. And he likes the courts in New York. I don’t think Nardi has any type of form right now to challenge the Spaniard.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Ateet:
Etcheverry has struggled to find consistency this season and that has been his biggest problem. One good win followed by a bad loss. He hasn’t won consecutive matches since the French Open and Mpetshi Perricard is not someone you want to face in the first-round of a Slam. The Frenchman’s form hasn’t been ideal either but he has the weapons to rattle any player. He also won their only meeting which came on clay this year and on this surface his serve would be even more deadly.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 5
Damian:
This was an extremely entertaining Lyon final just three months ago with Mpetshi Perricard saving one match point to claim his first ATP Tour title. The Frenchman wasn’t great in the US Open warm-ups, but this seems like a nice opportunity for him against a rather pedestrian hard-court player.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 4
Yesh:
The Frenchman won this matchup in the Lyon final back in May. Of course, he had a home crowd advantage there that he probably won’t have here. Then again, he has rapidly improved in the last few months. I expect the Frenchman to win this match more easily than the last one.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 3
Holger Rune vs Brandon Nakashima
Ateet:
This is one of the most exciting matches on paper and should be full of great shotmaking. Rune played some of his best tennis of the year in Cincinnati and was a point away from making the final. Nakashima has had multiple top 20 scalps on hard courts recently and has won both his matches against Rune. He will make it tough with the help of the home fans, but Rune should eventually triumph.
Prediction: Rune in 4
Damian:
Rune has been struggling in this matchup, particularly last year when Nakashima got him at the worst possible moment when the form broke down in Shanghai. This isn’t ideal for the Dane and the underdog will probably have his chances to win again. Let’s say Rune gets through it this time with more time to react in the longer format.
Prediction: Rune in 4
Yesh:
Honestly, I’m smelling upset here. Rune is a better player, yes, but Nakashima is so solid on these hard courts. He’ll have the crowd’s backing and has so much experience on courts like this. I think he can pull it off.
Prediction: Nakashima in 5
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
