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 here are my picks for 2 of Tuesday’s most intriguing matchups.
(11) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Thanasi KokkinakisTsitsipas and Kokkinakis might be squaring off for the second time of their careers. Their solely earlier assembly additionally got here at a significant and it went the space, as Tsitsipas obtained the job completed 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 on the 2021 Australian Open. One other thriller will be anticipated on Tuesday in New York despite the fact that Tsisipas is a transparent favourite on paper. The Greek owns a modest 8-7 match report in his final 15 appearances courting 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 to capitalize. Kokkinakis earned a spot within the Washington, D.C. third spherical and is coming off a second-round displaying as a qualifier on the Cincinnati Masters. Lastly, Kokkinakis has superior not less than one spherical in any respect 4 majors up to now this yr. An upset could possibly 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.
Choose: 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’re going to presumably get to complete what they began. Though Mensik already has an honest damage historical past at simply 18 years previous, he has been superb this season when he has been one hundred pc. Latest outcomes embody 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 state of affairs.
Choose: 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.
