U.S. Open 2024 Preview: Day 3 Matchups
What a wild ride it’s been at the U.S. Open! Tuesday was all about marathons, with matches stretching longer than summer nights in Miami! But don’t worry, the action is just heating up as we roll into Day 3. With second-round matchups underway, one of the most talked-about showdowns is between Taylor Fritz and Matteo Berrettini. Let’s break it down, mi gente!
Match Preview: Matteo Berrettini vs. (12) Taylor Fritz
Listen, nobody wants to see Berrettini in the early rounds, but here we are. Fritz drew the short straw in the U.S. Open draw, facing off against the most dangerous unseeded player in the tournament. Berrettini, a former semifinalist at Flushing Meadows, has seen his ranking slip to 44th due to an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for much of last year. But don’t let that fool you—he’s back and ready to cause some commotion.
The Italian has recently been on fire, boasting a 10-match winning streak and back-to-back titles on clay at Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. Sure, his hard-court prep was a bit shaky with an early exit in Cincinnati, but he absolutely dominated Albert Ramos-Vinolas in his opener here. So, he’s still got that fire!
Now let’s talk about the challenge ahead. Taylor Fritz, sitting pretty at No. 12 in the world, has had a stellar 39-16 record in 2024. He dispatched Camilo Ugo Carabelli in straight sets, showing he’s not to be messed with. Plus, he’s got the upper hand in their head-to-head matchup, leading 3-0 overall.
This match promises to be a nail-biter, but with Fritz’s form and confidence, he’s likely to edge this one out.
Pick: Fritz in 5
Match Preview: (8) Casper Ruud vs. Gael Monfils
Next up, it’s a classic showdown with Casper Ruud taking on the ever-charismatic Gael Monfils. These two have faced off twice before, splitting their previous encounters, and you know each match went the distance. Monfils claimed victory on the red clay of Quito in 2018, while Ruud recently took the upper hand at the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
That win for Ruud might actually be a positive sign for Monfils; Indian Wells is similar to clay, and coming into this match on a fast surface in NYC could give Monfils an edge. The 37-year-old Frenchman has a knack for thriving at the U.S. Open and just pulled off an impressive win against Carlos Alcaraz at the Cincinnati Masters.
Ruud, meanwhile, has cooled off a bit since a hot start this season. Monfils looked sharp in his four-set victory over Diego Schwartzman on Monday, so don’t sleep on him as he aims for an upset.
Pick: Monfils in 4
Ricky brings insights to 10sballs.com and runs his own tennis website, The Grandstand. Follow him on Twitter @Dimonator for more tennis buzz!
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Yours truly, Mia