First-round motion on the U.S. Open continues on Tuesday, when Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek are amongst these taking the courtroom. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassim are additionally in motion.
Listed below are my picks for 2 of Tuesday’s most intriguing matchups.
(11) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Thanasi KokkinakisTsitsipas and Kokkinakis will likely be squaring off for the second time of their careers. Their solely earlier assembly additionally got here at a serious and it went the space, as Tsitsipas received the job finished 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 on the 2021 Australian Open. One other thriller may be anticipated on Tuesday in New York although Tsisipas is a transparent favourite on paper. The Greek owns a modest 8-7 match report in his final 15 appearances relationship again to the Roland Garros quarterfinals. Furthermore, he now finds himself at what’s by far his worst of the 4 Grand Slams. Tsitsipas has by no means reached the fourth spherical and has performed within the third spherical solely twice.
As such, it is a prime alternative for Kokkinakis. If he’s wholesome sufficient, the Aussie ought to be capable of capitalize. Kokkinakis earned a spot within the Washington, D.C. third spherical and is coming off a second-round exhibiting as a qualifier on the Cincinnati Masters. Lastly, Kokkinakis has superior not less than one spherical in any respect 4 majors to this point this 12 months. An upset may very well be within the playing cards, and one other five-set marathon that Kokkinakis has been so accustomed to all through his profession is probably going.
Decide: Kokkinakis in 5
Jakub Mensik vs. (19) Felix Auger-AliassimeThe solely earlier encounter between Auger-Aliassime and Mensik resulted in retirement with the Canadian main 6-1, 1-0 on the Madrid Masters this spring. Quick ahead 4 months and they’ll presumably get to complete what they began. Though Mensik already has a good damage historical past at simply 18 years outdated, he has been excellent this season when he has been 100%. Latest outcomes embrace profitable qualification in each Montreal and Cincinnati.
For Auger-Aliassime, that Madrid end result got here mainly out of nowhere. The Nineteenth-ranked Canadian had been struggling going into it, however popping out of it he has continued to play fairly good tennis. FAA made it to the RG spherical of 16, the Paris Olympics semis (misplaced the bronze-medal match to Lorenzo Musetti), and the Cincinnati third spherical. Proper now the 24-year-old is the extra dependable play from a bodily standpoint–particularly in a slam best-of-five scenario.
Decide: Auger-Aliassime in 5
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
