U.S. Open Day 2 expert picks

Steen Kirby (Tennis East Coast) – In a match between a pair of players that can be really good when in form and really bad when not, Istomin may have an edge simply because Almagro is 0-2 on summer hard courts and both losses were against middling competition (Radek Stepanek and Grigor Dimitrov). The Spaniard did not play well at all in either match. Istomin owns the head-to-head 2-0, though they have never met on hard courts. The Uzbek has lost in the first round of his last two tournaments, but he managed to put together a pair of wins in both Atlanta and Montreal, plus a victory in Washington, D.C. Istomin generally plays well at the U.S. Open and assuming he can serve well and keep his error count down, he should win this in four sets. Istomin 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Ricky Dimon – Almagro is the clear favorite on paper, but there is a lot to like about Istomin’s chances. Both of their previous encounters have gone the way of the Uzbek, without the loss of a single set. Istomin is coming off a first-round loss in Winston-Salem, but he advanced to the Atlanta quarterfinals earlier this summer and is a decent 24-24 for the season. Almagro has cooled off since a hot start to 2013 and he is riding a three-match losing streak. Although the world No. 15 is no slouch on fast surfaces, he is obviously at his best on clay. Istomin turned in a memorable U.S. Open performance against Nadal in 2010 (albeit in a straight-set loss), and anything close to that level will be enough against Almagro. Istomin 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.

Steen – Mayer and Monaco will be meeting for the seventh time in their careers, with neither player in great form. Neither has any points defend as they were both swept out of the first round of last year’s U.S. Open.  Monaco won one match combined in both Cincy and Winston-Salem, while Mayer won just a single hard-court match this summer in Montreal against Bernard Tomic. Funky Flo has 4-2 head-to-head edge over Monaco, but the Argentine should win a close one this time. Monaco 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Ricky – Funky Flo is in a serious funk these days. Once accustomed to being seeded at Grand Slams, the German is nowhere near that level right now. He finds himself down at No. 47 in the world and his 2013 record is below .500. Monaco is 2-5 lifetime in this head-to-head series, but he took care of Mayer earlier this year in a clay-court Davis Cup rubber. The Argentine has not lost in the first round of a tournament since Roland Garros. Based mostly on his opponent’s form, there is no reason to think Monaco will do so on Tuesday. Monaco 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Steen – This is a battle of the young vs. the old. Sock has shown signs of breakthrough but has still failed to put it all together, and the American fans are waiting anxiously for someone new to cheer. In order to make such a mark, Sock and his forehand will need to get past a veteran qualifier who has been dragged down by injuries. In qualifying, however, Petzschner looked solid and fit. Sock, meanwhile, has struggled with his own fitness. He won a big first-round match last year in New York against Mayer, another German. Sock may have a hard time in some of the individual games, but if he serves well and his fitness is decent he should win in straights. Sock 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Ricky – It has already been a productive showing in New York for the oft-injured Petzschner, who qualified for the main draw with a trio of victories. Nothing about Sock’s summer has been productive, as he lost in the first round in four of five tournaments leading up to the U.S. Open. That being said, the 20-year-old American has reached at least the second round of his last two trips to New York, including a run to the last 32 in 2012. Sock should be able to capitalize on another favorable draw. After all, Petzschner has not played a main-draw singles match since losing in the Wimbledon first round. Sock may be a literal wild card, but the German is the figurative wild card in this one. Sock 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.