A few interesting first-round picks from Flushing Meadows to get into today, and honestly some of these are less straightforward than the rankings suggest. Let's get into it.
US Open Predictions
Arthur Fery vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: First meeting
Fery's had a strong year climbing into the top 40, and first-round Grand Slam matches on a hard court against someone ranked 37th in the world aren't exactly a gimme for a guy like Musetti, whose best tennis tends to come on clay. That said, Musetti's been one of the more consistent ball-strikers on tour this season and his one-handed backhand gives him options that most players at this level don't have.
Fery will make it competitive, and I wouldn't be shocked if this goes the distance, but Musetti has the quality to get through in five sets, all things considered.
Prediction: Musetti in 3
Nuno Borges vs Learner Tien
Head-to-head: Borges 0-2 Tien
Tien is only 19 and already holds a 2-0 lead in this rivalry, which tells you plenty about where he's heading. He's got the kind of clean, aggressive ball-striking that translates well to hard courts and Borges, for all his consistency, hasn't found an answer in their two previous meetings. To make things worse for Borges, Tien's ranking jumped into the top 15 for a reason and he's been one of the better stories on tour this year.
Borges won't go away quietly, and this could stretch, but Tien takes it.
Prediction: Tien in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Arthur Fils
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 0-5 Fils
Five meetings, zero wins for Tsitsipas. That's not a coincidence, that's a matchup problem. Fils is physical, hits through the court and doesn't give Tsitsipas the time he needs to set up his backhand slice and construct points his way. Tsitsipas is also going through a rough patch ranking-wise, sliding to 53, which is a steep fall for a former world number three, after a difficult stretch of results, and there's nothing about this draw position that changes the dynamic between them.
Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Fils in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © PI via ZUMA Press Wire