The USTA has announced its 32 seeds for the U.S. Open, so we now know certain matchups that could potentially take place along the way. “Potentially,” of course, is the key word here. After all, who knows how many seeded players could be bounced out of Flushing Meadows before they are even scheduled to go up against a fellow seed? Juan Martin Del Potro, for example, is unseeded and will be slated to face a seeded adversary in either the first or second round (just as he did against Novak Djokovic in round one of the Rio Olympics).
But for this piece’s sake, we’ll assume all of the seeds successfully make their way through the bracket.
If the seeds reach the third round, 1-8 would meet 25-32.
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Andy Murray
3. Stan Wawrinka
4. Rafael Nadal
5. Milos Raonic
6. Kei Nishikori
7. Marin Cilic
8. Dominic Thiem
vs.
25. Philipp Kohlschreiber
26. Jack Sock
27. Alexander Zverev
28. Martin Klizan
29. Sam Querrey
30. Gilles Simon
31. Albert Ramos-Vinolas
32. Benoit Paire
Thus there is a possibility of a rematch between Djokovic and Sam Querrey, who collided in the last 32 at Wimbledon. In that rain-interrupted showdown, Querrey shocked the world No. 1 on his way to the quarterfinals and ultimately opened the door for Andy Murray to win his second title at the All-England Club. Kei Nishikori, meanwhile, could face Benoit Paire in the third round in New York. They squared off in the opening round last summer, when the Frenchman pulled off a five-set upset after fighting off two match points. Good friends Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev may be forced to go head-to-head in the third round, just as they did at Roland Garros (Thiem won in four sets on his way to the semis).
9-16 would meet 17-24.
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
10. Gael Monfils
11. David Ferrer
12. David Goffin
13. Richard Gasquet
14. Nick Kyrgios
15. Roberto Bautista Agut
16. Feliciano Lopez
vs.
17. Bernard Tomic
18. Pablo Cuevas
19. Steve Johnson
20. John Isner
21. Ivo Karlovic
22. Grigor Dimitrov
23. Kevin Anderson
24. Lucas Pouille
Good news for John Isner: he cannot run into Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round. The 6’10” American succumbed to Kohlschreiber in three straight U.S. Opens–each time in the third round (2012, 2013, and 2014). But Isner could be in line for another date with Monfils, and good things generally happen when those two share the same court. The head-to-head series is tied 4-4 and almost every one of their eight battles has been entertaining (including a U.S. Open second-round thriller in 2013, won by Isner in a fourth-set ‘breaker). An all-Aussie affair between Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic could also be a possibility.
If the seeds hold to form into the fourth round, 1-4 would meet 13-16.
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Andy Murray
3. Stan Wawrinka
4. Rafael Nadal
vs.
13. Richard Gasquet
14. Nick Kyrgios
15. Roberto Bautista Agut
16. Feliciano Lopez
Kyrgios vs. Stan Wawrinka would be the headliner, for obvious reasons. That said, the 21-year-old Autralian also has a history against Murray and Rafael Nadal. Kyrgios is a disastrous 0-5 lifetime against Murray and he has fallen to the second-ranked Scot in a whopping four of the last seven majors. Nadal is 1-1 against Kyrgios with a 2014 Wimbledon loss and a three-set win earlier this season on the red clay of Rome. A Wawrinka vs. Richard Gasquet contest would also be of note. Each of their two previous Grand Slam showdowns (2013 French Open, 2015 Wimbledon) went deep into fifth sets (8-6 to Wawrinka and 11-9 in Gasquet’s favor).
5-8 would meet 9-12.
5. Milos Raonic
6. Kei Nishikori
7. Marin Cilic
8. Dominic Thiem
vs.
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
10. Gael Monfils
11. David Ferrer
12. David Goffin
The chances of these matchups coming to fruition are slim. Thiem seems to have run out of gas late in the season, Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are always physical question marks, David Ferrer is mired in a slump, and David Goffin has cooled off since a torrid spring. Tsonga vs. Marin Cilic, would be a rematch of a contentious five-setter in the quarterfinals of last year’s U.S. Open. Cilic, the 2014 champion, got the job done 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4. Thiem and Goffin, who are occasional doubles partners, met in the Roland Garros quarterfinals a few months ago–with the Austrian triumphing in four sets.
And in the quarterfinals, 1-4 would meet 5-8.
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Andy Murray
3. Stan Wawrinka
4. Rafael Nadal
vs.
5. Milos Raonic
6. Kei Nishikori
7. Marin Cilic
8. Dominic Thiem
Raonic came within one victory of stealing the No. 4 seed from Nadal, but the huge-serving Canadian fell to Murray in the Cincinnati semifinals and thus had to settle for No. 5. As such, he could run up against either Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, or Nadal in the U.S. Open quarterfinals instead of possibly battling Nadal, Nishikori, Cilic, or Thiem. A Murray-Raonic tilt would mark their sixth of the year. Murray has won their previous five 2016 matches and now leads the head-to-head series 8-3 after once trailing it 3-1.
draw predictions?
Isn’t that like predicting a coin toss?
Or do you mean conspiracy theories? As in rigged draws?
Or don’t you.
Besides, no fun without Roger (Hard Draw) Dodger out of the mix.
If anything, with Roger over and out, I might actually predict an easy draw for Rafa to maximize ratings and revenues and tough draw for Nole.
But that would only be if I believed in rigged draws.
I closed my eyes and picked someone from one list then the next with my thumb and got this third round lineup:
Cilic vs Querrey
Wawrinka vs Ramos-Vinolas
Raonic vs Klizan
Thiem vs Zverev
Nadal vs Simon
Djokovic vs Sock
Nishikori vs Kohlschreiber
Murray vs Paire
Gasquet vs Anderson
Lopez vs Tomic
Ferrer vs Johnson
Goffin vs Pouille
Bautista Agut vs Isner
Monfils vs Karlovic
Kyrgios vs Cuevas
Tsonga vs Dimitrov
Did the same with the fourth round and got this list (of course lots of the those third round matches I got would prob go the other way i.e. Johnson v Ferrer):
Wawrinka vs Gasquet
Nadal vs Lopez
Murray vs Bautista Agut
Djokovic vs Kyrgios
Cilic vs Monfils
Nishikori vs Goffin
Thiem vs Tsonga
Raonic vs Ferrer
Then for QF I got:
Djoker vs Thiem
Nadal vs Nishikori
Murray vs Raonic
Wawrinka vs Cilic
Then for SF I did it too:
Murray vs Wawrinka
Nadal vs Djokovic
And of course the final with all seeds going as far as they should would be Nole vs Murray. Of course this is impossible to predict and for sure not every seed will make third round but I’m gonna check which guys I had in the same third round section as the draw when it comes out Friday. The SFs could go that way but Nadal and Stan are pretty liable to losing before the final four of course especially to someone like Raonic or Cilic. Can’t wait for the tourney. Already some feel good wins for Americans like Ryan Shane in the qualifying and some good matches and upsets.
My wish list:
1. Djokovic v Querry (Lightning will not strike twice)
2. Murray v Sock (my money’s on Murray)
3. Wawrinka v Zverev (Stanimal unless he’s having a really off day)
4. Nadal v Klizan Rafa, if still healthy
5. Raonic v Kohls (we’ll see how Kohls fares against a different Big Serve)
6. Nishikori v Paire (Nishi if healthy)
7. Cilic v Ramos-Vinolas (Cilic)
8.Thiem v Simon (Simon hasn’t been looking like beating anyone lately)
9. Tsonga v Dimitrov (Could be very interesting if both play well)
10. Monfils v Anderson (Monfils on form)
11. Ferrer v Isner (Isner since Ferrer has not looked good all year :()
12. Goffin v Pouille (Goffin, I think)
13. Gasquet v Johnson (giving Stevie a break since he done good at the Olympics)
14. Kyrgios v Tomic (here’s your All-Aussie match between two Aussies who often are not All There — pick ’em)
15. RBA v Cuevas (should be a good tough match. I’ll give the edge to Cuevas)
16.Lopez v Karlovic (depends on form on The Day)
3rd round matching specs
1)Novak vs 27)AZerev (never met)
2)Andy vs 26)Jack Sock (never met)
3)Stan vs 30)Simon (Simon leads hc)
4)Rafa vs 28)Krazy Klizan
5)Milos vs 32)Benoit Paire
6)Kei vs 31)Ramos-Vinolas
7)Marin vs 25)Kohlschreiber (Kohls leads h2h)
8)Thiem vs 29)Querrey
9)Tsonga vs 22)Dimitrov
10)Monfils vs 20)Isner (never met)
11)Ferrer vs 25)Anderson
12)Goffin vs 24)Pouille
13)Gasquet vs 18)Cuevas
14)Kyrgios vs 17)Tomic
15)RBA vs 19)Johnson
16)Flopez vs 21)Karlovic
hahaha I have 2 25)’s
Kevin Anderson should be 23).
La monf and big John have played numerous times. Still would be a great matchup if it happened.
oh yeah, oops. They are tied 4-4. Don’t know who I was thinking ?
monfils and isner met a few times
Many
Hoping for surprises, great match-ups, maybe a new GS winner, or one that hasn’t won for a long time.
Delpo has to be in the quarterfinal, imo. 😀
agreed. really really want delpo to get some luck with the draw and do well. would be great if he can get a nice clutch of ranking points.
don’t want him in either rafa’s or nole’s quarter though.
actually i don’t see why delpo can’t win if he gets the right draw. i know no-one agrees with me though…!
That’s ok.
Nobody expected him to reach the final and beating Fed in 2009 either.
But it should be interesting with Delpo and now Cilic finding their form.
I still see Djokovic bouncing back to take the title. Boring pick I know but there it is.
not sure where nole is at right now hawks. maybe he will be fine, maybe a bit vulnerable.
he’s the best hard courter on the tour for sure but he sometimes struggles with the conditions at the uso – is it the main court that gets very windy? he’s only won 2 slams there so this isn’t like the AO where the slow surface suits him a lot better.
it also feels like nole wound himself so tight to reach his dream goal of winning the french that he has gone slack somehow.
In form, I still think he’s the man to beat in NY.
He was ruthless beating Fed with the crowd jeering him in the final last year surrendering just four sets.
With Lendl back, Murray is not far behind but his record against Nole pathetic. Since Andy beat him at the USO four years ago, Andy is 3-16 overall, 1-12 on hard court, 1-6 in slams.
Cilic would pose a serious threat if he plays like he did in Cincy last week and USO in 2014.
Don’t think Delpo can do it without his backhand over five sets, especially against Nole’s GOAT ROS.
But this all assumes he’s healthy both mentally and physically which admittedly is still a big unknown.
Nole ole: How ready is he physically and emotionally? He won in Canada (with a reduced feild). But that loss at the Olympics was a heart breaker …not sure if he’ll be pumped-up to subdue the competition or ? We’ll soon see :)?
Nole forced all of zero break points with his so called GOAT ROS in Rio. Delpo CAN win with his backhand as is. He just needs some scheduling breaks to rest between matches.
It’s unlikely that Novak will repeat such a dismal performance (Rio) by his standards. Although, I don’t know. Rio was a bit shocking to me.
i didn’t see the rio match. if it was that bad then along with the dreadful match he played against querrey you have to wonder if there is something wrong. i think he does have some physical issue but there may be emotional factors ie post rg blues as well…
Well, I don’t know. Could be physical but I couldn’t help thinking it was a combination — snagging that masters in Canada looked easy. Absolutely crushed for him losing his chance in Rio. He’ll be what in 2020? 33?
On the other side, Delpo’s forehand. And the Delpo fans singing the ‘Delpo’ chorus was marvelous.
well i would be very happy if delpo won! even if he doesn’t he can do huge damage and take out top seeds thus enabling others to come through – he’s the ultimate stopper right now..
Novak did not play poorly at all. Delpo was brilliant, much better than all of his other Rio matches.
At any rate, I’d be thrilled if Delpo won another US Open!
Maybe he can work another miracle. Who woulda thunk he’d be in the gold medal round in the Olympics this summer.
No, it was definitely a combination.
Delpo played great.
Nole played very well, but not great (certainly not his best). He was carrying an injury. Oh wait, only Rafa is allowed to be injured here according to the Rafa Polizei.
I dont see Djoko winning this USO. He was poor by his own standard at the USO, converting 2 out of 6 finals into titles, ie 33% success rate. Also, the two times that he won, 2011 and 2015, he was in top form. I doubt he’s in top form now.
Right now Cilic and Murray are in top form, and Delpo becomes a threat again. Rafa seems to be playing better now at this time than last year. Unless Cilic suddenly gone backwards and plays badly, his potential QF meeting with Djoko will be an interesting one, a tough one perhaps for Djoko.
My wish list. Rafa in Djok’s half. Delpo vs Djok in first round. Cilic in Djok’s quarter, Thiem in Rafa’s
Final: Rafa vs Muzz
Winner: Rafa!!!
Oh well, if wishes were horses….
My wish list is much less probable than that?
Delpo very well could take out any top seed in the first round. If you believe in rigging draws the player that has to face him first round will be in USO doghouse.
I think that the talk about Delpo is somewhat too optimistic. He did so well in Rio, but playing in a slam in best of five set matches is a whole other thing. He will have a tough draw being seeded so low and coming in as a wild card.
Delpo could be a giant killer and maybe take out a higher ranked player, but I just don’t think he can win. Cilic could be a dark horse if he can continue playing the way he did at Cincy.
Novak and Murray are the co-favorites for me. It will be interesting to see how Novak looks after getting knocked out of Wimbledon and the Olympics. Will there be any lasting affects from that?
But I don’t think that Novak can be counted out. Murray still needs to show that he can beat Novak.
We will have to see if there are any surprise upsets in the first week.
“Novak and Murray are the co-favorites for me.” Me too. And the most likely bracket pick for the final (right now)
Outrights Paddypower. http://www.paddypower.com/bet/tennis/mens-us-open
N Djokovic 2.00
A Murray 3.00
rc,
Thanks for the info! ?
Rafa is in Djoko’s quarter.
Correction: Rafa is in Djoko’s HALF.
Projected QFs:
Djokovic – Cilic
Nadal – Raonic
Wawrinka – Thiem
Murray – Nishikori
So Novak got Cilic! That could be interesting! Rafa to meet Novak in the semis! Ugh!
Novak and Murray back-to-back!
Raonic in the quarters could be trucky, too!
Rafa will make his debut against Denis Istomin.
Cakewalk for Muzza to the finals. Opens with La Rosol and Nishi possible in the Semis
Bottom half draw…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqzBWBGWEAQzB8w.jpg
Soory, bottom half Murrays’ quarter. Nishi in the QFs…
Have to agree about Murray’s draw, ie cakewalk for him. What to do, he’s in good form this year. He will make his fourth consecutive slam final in a season, something even Rafa couldnt do.
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg 21m21 minutes ago Queens, NY
Steve Johnson, who contended that del Potro getting a wild card could lead to him beating an American, would play del Potro in R2. #USOpen
Maybe The Donald can build a wall around Flushing Meadows before it’s too late.
Vamos Delpo!
EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION ON TENNGRAND FOR REAL RAFANS FROM YOUR OFFICIAL B1PR(tm) TENNGRAND CORRESPONDENT FOR RAFAEL NADAL!!!
I repeat My post on Raaf’s page here for all Real(TM) Rafans(TM) convenience.
Rafa’s draw…
R1 Istomin
R2 Seppi
R3 Pouille
R4 Bautista
QF Raonic
SF Djokovic
F Murray
(For B1PR News)
Amazing possible draw to the second week but it’s tough after that.