Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka will square off in a big-hitting matchup at the U.S. Open on Friday. The winner will book a spot in the proverbial second week of the event alongside either Grigor Dimitrov or Tallon Griekspoor.
(6) Andrey Rublev vs. (32) Jiri Lehecka
Rublev and Lehecka will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they clash in round three of the U.S. Open on Friday. The head-to-head series is all tied up at 2-2 after Lehecka rolled to a 6-4, 6-4 upset at the Indian Wells Masters. Rublev had dominated their 2023 Indian Wells encounter 6-4, 6-2, but this time around he is the one who is looking for revenge.
The Russian should be able to get it, too, because he is doing well to turn around what had been a borderline terrible year. Rublev posted a decent quarterfinal result in Washington, D.C., finished runner-up at the Montreal Masters (beat Jannik Sinner in the quarters), and reached the last eight in Cincinnati (lost to Sinner in three sets). So far in New York the world No. 6 has defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild and Arthur Rinderknech–the latter from two sets down. Lehecka also came back to win in five on Wednesday, beating Mitchell Krueger 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. Because of a back injury this is just the 38th-ranked Czech’s second tournament since Madrid in late April. With both guys coming off five-setters, Rublev is the more reliable of the two from a physical standpoint.
Pick: Rublev in 5
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Tallon Griekspoor vs. (9) Grigor Dimitrov
It has not been a productive summer on American hard courts for Dimitrov, but New York City could be just what the doctor ordered. The 33-year-old Bulgarian was a semifinalist in 2019 and has advanced to the fourth round two other times. He finds himself back in the third round following straight-set destructions of Kyrian Jacquet and Rinky Hijikata.
Up next for Dimitrov is Griekspoor, whom he surprisingly has never faced. The 40th-ranked Dutchman has cooled off significantly since a strong start to the 2024 campaign, as he was 2-7 in his last nine matches heading into Flushing Meadows. Griekspoor did not have to do much earlier in the week, easing past Sumit Nagal in straight sets before getting a second-set retirement from Sebastian Baez. This is Griekspoor’s first appearance in the U.S. Open third round and he has never been to the fourth round of a major. That drought is likely to continue.
Pick: Dimitrov in 4
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Rublev in 4; Dtrov in 3