With 20 matches on the schedule, the stage is set for an entertaining third day at the US Open. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Lorenzo Musetti vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Jannik Sinner vs Vit Kopriva, Tommy Paul vs Elmer Moller, and Gael Monfils vs Roman Safiullin. But who will reach the second round?
US Open Day 3 Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Alejandro Tabilo
Zain: When his game clicks, Alejandro Tabilo can cause problems for almost anyone, dictating the tempo with his forehand. However, this season has largely been one to forget for the Chilean. Alexander Zverev’s big serve and ever-reliable backhand should allow him to counterpunch effectively and earn a straightforward win.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Tope: Aside from his first-round exit on his US Open debut a decade ago, Alezander Zverev has cleared the first hurdle every time has come to New York. The struggling Tabilo cannot change that this season.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Damian: Tabilo was raised in Canada and he can play on hard courts, but the quality edge seems pretty massive here. Zverev can make an opening round of a Grand Slam tricky for himself sometimes and we’ll see how serious of a contender he is for this tournament. But he’s got a great record against lefties and there’s not much Tabilo can hurt him with.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
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Lorenzo Sonego vs Tristan Schoolkate
Zain: Most fans know Tristan Schoolkate as the player who famously took a set off Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open earlier this season. Here he faces another Italian in Lorenzo Sonego, and while the quality of opposition is a step down, the result is unlikely to change.
Prediction: Sonego in 4
Tope: Lorenzo Sonego has performed well in Grand Slam tournaments this year, reaching the fourth round in SW19 and a quarterfinals at the Australian Open. He’s got way more experience and is expected to win this match, though Schoolkate won’t be a walkover.
Prediction: Sonego in 4
Damian: Sonego has been so up and down since the Australian Open and it’s easy to forget he was a Grand Slam quarterfinalist this season. Schoolkate will throw the kitchen sink at him with that hyper-aggressive game and while the Italian’s game is more polished up, you really can’t have an idea as to how he’ll perform in any given match at the moment.
Prediction: Schoolkate in 5
Alexei Popyrin vs Emil Ruusuvuori
Zain: Playing his first ATP Tour-level match of the year, it is good to see Emil Ruusuvuori back on court. Still, the first round may prove a step too far too soon, especially against Alexei Popyrin, who enjoys these courts and famously beat Novak Djokovic in New York last year. That confidence should carry him to another win here.
Prediction: Popyrin in 3
Tope: Barring a ‘resurrection’ of mammoth proportions, this should be one of the straightest forwards wins of the opening round. Emil Ruusuvuori hasn’t played a match since May, currently ranked 752nd and lost their only meeting. He may rely on his experience to steal a set but in a best of five, it’s Alexei Popyrin’s match to lose.
Prediction: Popyrin in 4
Damian: Popyrin’s back to being unseeded after the Montreal title points disappeared off this rankings, but it’s not like he wasn’t solid in Toronto and Cincinnati. He should get through the opening round and come up against Sinner in the second, especially as Ruusuvuori hasn’t played in over three months and struggled with both injuries and mental burnout.
Prediction: Popyrin in 4
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Daniel Altmaier vs Hamad Medjedovic
Zain: These two met at the French Open earlier this year, where Daniel Altmaier’s heavy game ultimately wore down Hamad Medjedovic, who looked visibly exhausted by the end of the match. While Medjedovic’s movement and stamina remain question marks, the faster conditions in New York should suit him far better than those in Paris. That may be enough for the Serbian to turn the tables this time.
Prediction: Medjedovic in 5
Tope: Hamad Medjedovic reached a career high #57 on Monday and he will be motivated to consolidate on his progress this season with a win against Daniel Altmaier. The German should avoid a straight-sets defeat though.
Prediction: Medjedovic in 4
Damian: Altmaier won this one at Roland Garros, but Medjedovic was feeling unwell basically from the word go. Fitness is still a concern from the Serbian despite some strong performances recently. But his hard-court level is much stronger than Altmaier’s and he only needs his body to hold up to win this match.
Prediction: Medjedovic in 4
Main photo credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
