The highest half of the boys’s draw on the U.S. Open stays considerably intact after No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev survived a five-set thriller in opposition to Lorenzo Sonego in spherical one. Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and different wills be again on the court docket for Thursday’s schedule. On the ladies’s aspect, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka proceed their title bids.
Listed below are my picks for 2 of Thursday’s greatest matchups.
(3) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Karen KhachanovAuger-Aliassime and Khachanov will probably be dealing with one another for the fifth time of their careers. The pinnacle-to-head collection couldn’t be extra aggressive, all tied up 2-2 general. Three of their first 4 conferences went to a last set, and the one one which didn’t was an in depth 7-6(5), 6-4 lead to FAA’s favor on the 2022 ‘s-Hertogenbosch occasion.
They’ve by no means performed a lopsided H2H match, and this one figures to be no totally different. The Canadian is an apparent favourite as a result of he’s the No. 3 seed and Khachanov has struggled this yr, however the Russian — who clobbered Roman Andres Burruchaga in spherical one — can’t be discounted at Flushing Meadows. He’s a former semifinalist (2022) right here. Enjoying simply his fourth match of the North American hard-court summer season, Auger-Aliassime scraped previous Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Monday. The world No. 4 ought to be anticipated to emerge victorious in one other hard-fought battle.
Decide: Auger-Aliassime in 4(WC) Gael Monfils vs. (14) Learner TienVintage Gael Monfils was on show within the first spherical of what’s last-ever U.S. Open look. Celebrating his fortieth birthday on Tuesday, Monfils electrified a packed home in Louis Armstrong Stadium with 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
The Frenchman’s reward is one other shot at Tien, who beat him 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 final month in Montreal. The 20-year-old American has been superior in 2026 whereas climbing to fifteenth within the rakings, and he routined an in-form Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in his opening match of the fortnight. This may very well be essentially the most enjoyable match of the complete second spherical, but it surely simply feels Monfils emptied the tank on his fortieth birthday for one final memorable victory in entrance of the NY devoted. Now he faces a red-hot opponent who’s going to run him everywhere in the court docket. I’ll take Tien in three entertaining and largely aggressive units.
Decide: Tien in 3Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
