2023 ATP Tour Grand Slam Tennis US Open Men’s Championships USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York, USA (Outdoor Hardcourt) Selected 3rd Round Matches – 2nd September
Alex Zverev 38/100 | Grigor Dimitrov 2/1
Alex Zverev progressed to the 3rd round courtesy of a seesaw four-set win against compatriot Daniel Altmaier. He hasn’t quite got into optimum rhythm yet but- luckily- he has that awesome serve to bank on. Zverev has a strong affinity for these courts, losing in the 2020 final and reaching the semi-final in 2021.
His horror ankle injury at last year’s French Open could have been a career-ender. But the German has shown single-minded determination in getting back to peak physical condition (even going on to once again reach the semis at Roland Garros this year). He is fresh off a semi-final run in Cincinnati and he is honestly starting to look every bit a former World No.2.
Grigor Dimitrov had to save two match-points in his opener against Molcan and I feared for the Bulgarian going into a match with nemesis Andy Murray. But he swept away a visibly out of sorts Murray with disdain, playing percentage tennis and forcing the usually calm Scot into bucketloads of errors.
That win improved the Bulgarian’s season to 27-15 as he looks to emulate his semi-final run here in 2019. But don’t let that Murray performance fool you. Dimitrov has lost his last five matches against Zverev and I think the German’s metronomic serve will lead him to another comfy win.
Verdict: Zverev to win in straight sets
Nicolas Jarry 12/5 | Alex de Minaur 32/100
Chilean Nicolas Jarry has really come into his own this season. Something of a journeyman pro over the years, Jarry has taken his direct, aggressive approach to new levels with a career-defining campaign. The clay-court specialist won titles in Chile and Geneva.
But he has also produced his career best Grand Slam performance in every individual Slam (including this one). Jarry has a no-nonsense approach, using a powerful, flat serve and clinical forehand to shorten exchanges. He has come through tough matches against Van Assche and Michelson and will once again have to raise his level against ‘Speed Demon’ Alex de Minaur.
The Aussie has really compiled a pretty exceptional campaign. He won the biggest title of his career in Mexico and he has reached three finals since. That included back-to-back hardcourt finals at the Los Cabos Open and Toronto Masters.
He has upped his aggression considerably this year and doesn’t purely rely on deep baseline retrievals. Still, his more labour-intensive style is the complete antithesis of the Jarry approach and that’s what makes this match interesting.
De Minaur is the clear favourite and he won this only previous encounter back in 2017. But something is telling me that Jarry’s ultra-flat hitting could allow him to gain superiority over the Aussie from the back of the court.
Verdict: Jarry to win in four
Jannik Sinner 9/2 | Stan Wawrinka 2/13
Everything is looking rosy for 6th seeded Italian Jannik Sinner. He just taught Lorenzo Sonego a lesson in hardcourt efficiency with a resounding straight-sets win. He never faced a break-point in the entire match and only lost 10 points on serve throughout.
It’s an ominous showing that tracks with his recent form. Sinner has been a paragon of consistency this season, reaching the final in Miami and capturing his maiden ATP 1000 title in Toronto. His early elimination in Cincinnati can be dismissed as a glorified US Open practice session. Sinner broke his Grand Slam quarterfinal hoodoo with a run to the Wimbledon semis and he knows he has unfinished business here.
The Italian squandered a match-point (on serve) in last year’s herculean quarterfinal clash with eventual champ Carlos Alcaraz. Next up for Sinner will be a match against 2016 champ Stan Wawrinka. The 38-year-old Swiss has looked impressive in New York, easily dispatching of Nishioka before a gruelling four-set win against Argentine Tomas Etcheverry.
He has managed to worm himself back into the top 50 this year, reaching the final 16 at Indian Wells and contesting the recent Croatia Open final. I just don’t see how he contains the young Italian. Sinner is serving exceptionally and moving as good as anyone on tour.
Verdict: Sinner to win in straight-sets
