Americans Jack Sock and Ryan Harrison will try to maintain momentum and book spots in the U.S. Open fourth round on Friday. Sock has an extremely tough test on his hands with Marin Cilic, while Harrison is going up against Marcos Baghdatis.
(26) Jack Sock vs. (7) Marin Cilic
Cilic and Sock will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time this summer when they meet again in the U.S. Open third round on Friday. Their only previous showdown came during the recent Davis Cup quarterfinals, with Sock benefiting from home-court advantage in the United States to pull off a 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 upset. It has been downhill ever since for the 27th-ranked American, at least in singles (he won the doubles bronze medal with Steve Johnson). He lost the decisive fifth rubber of the Davis Cup tie against Croatia to Borna Coric and suffered a disastrous Olympic first-round setback at the hands of Taro Daniel. But Sock has erased demons of 2014 and 2015 U.S. Open retirements with victories this week over Taylor Fritz (in five) and Mischa Zverev (6-1, 6-1, 6-2).
The champion of this event in 2014, Cilic–outside of the obvious top contenders–is looking like a possible title winner once again. Cilic just captured his first-ever Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati and so far in New York he has clobbered Rogerio Dutra Silva and Sergiy Stakhovsky. Sock will be a much tougher opponent, but Cilic is too confident right now and simply too good at Flushing Meadows.
Pick: Cilic in 4
[polldaddy poll=9510419]
Marcos Baghdatis vs. (Q) Ryan Harrison
At long last, Harrison is through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. Although he is still only 24 years old, big things have been expected of the American since he won his first ATP-level match at 15. After showing brief signs of living up to those expectations, Harrison all but disappeared from the main tour over the past few seasons. This summer, however, the former world No. 43 is once again playing some of the best tennis of his life. He successfully qualified and reached third rounds in both Washington, D.C. and Toronto, also qualified for this U.S. Open, and is now in the last 32 following defeats of Adrian Mannarino and Milos Raonic. Harrison rolled over Mannarino 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3 and benefited from a hobbled Raonic to upset the sixth-ranked Canadian 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday evening.
Up next for Harrison is a third career contest against Baghdatis, with the head-to-head series standing at 1-1. Baghdatis won their only previous ATP-level tilt 7-6(7), 6-4 at the 2012 Brisbane event before Harrison prevailed 7-6(8), 6-4 in the final of the 2015 Happy Valley Challenger. Whereas the second round of slams had been a massive roadblock for Harrison, the third round has proven to be Baghdatis’ undoing of late. In fact, the 44th-ranked Cypriot is 0-8 in his last eight matches at this stage of majors dating back to the 2010 Australian Open. Baghdatis has looked good this week with relatively routine wins over Facundo Bagnis and Benoit Paire, but a confident Harrison is more than capable of extending the veteran’s third-round woes.
Pick: Harrison in 4
[polldaddy poll=9510353]
who ya got?
Cilic 3
Baggy 4
Cilic 4
Baggy 5
#RyanIsTheNewGoffin
Cilic in straights and Harrison in four
I was waiting to see if anyone would pick Harrison to beat Baggy!
So here comes Benny with the pick! I have been going back and forth trying to decide between Harrison trying to get back on track and the veteran Baggy.
Cilic in 4 sets over Sock.
I am going to join Benny and pick Harrison for the win in 4 sets.
tough one to call, and the way the first week is going and amount of 5 setters and guys coming back from sets down, never seen so many before… I will go with harrison in 5
Cilic has been serving quite amazing, and when he gets that first strike tennis, he is hard to beat… Cilic in 3
Nobody trusts in Sock to beat Cilic?
absolutely not
Merica is running out of Mericans and injured players to beat.
True. BagADonuts and Cilic provided he does not choke again.
Perhaps I spoke too soon…
@BenRothenberg 25s25 seconds ago Queens, NY
Cilic cramping already? Down 6-4, *3-2 to Jack Sock, trainer comes out and rubs both of his thighs. #USOpen
(Hey Ricky, you and Ben (NOT Rafa’s PR manager Benny) getting together for beers in NY or what.)
Don’t you? Or do you.
Cilic in 3
Baggy in 5
Harrison in 4 $$$
Cilic in 4 $$$
oops!!!!!
Bagman in 4 and Cilic in 3….beautiful day here at Flushing Meadow…perfect tennis weather !
Cilic down two sets to Sock, Djokovic looking iffy. Milos out.
Rafa starting to look like he could pull a #FedRG09.
(But that serve.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s
? Rafa 🙂
Hawkeye,
I just had to tell say thanks for putting up the video of “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John.
One of my all-time favorite songs!
?
What happened to Cilic? Cant watch the match. Is Sock that good or is Cilic that bad?
Cilic has been cramping.
Ah I didn’t realize that
Lol just when I thought Cilic was done with this up and down business he’s down two sets to love to sock. Jack looked great against Zverev though and I just got home and am gonna watch some of that match on the ESPN app now and the keys Osaka match which is pretty interesting.
Sock serving to send Cilic sailing.
Happy for sock but that’s really disappointing for Marin. Thank god I didn’t have him beating Djokovic. Djokovic will be pleased for sure. Still Sock at the level he’s at these last two matches could really push Novak with the crowd behind him and how we still don’t really know the kind of form Novak is in. Btw Harrison crushed Baghdatis 6-1 in the third after Marcos got the first two sets 6-3 and 7-6 but I have a feeling Ryan is gonna get this done as his fitness has been impressive this week and Baghdatis may falter mentally and physically as he hasn’t made a fourth round at a slam in his last eight tries or so and he is older and I could see him being out of gas soon while Harrison will be thriving to come back with the home crowd behind him and his greater stamina and energy.
Oh god I’m such a jinx it’s 2-0 Baghdatis. Come on Ryan fight back!
Strange tournament so far , who would have seen Cilic and Raonic both out now!
I hate to say it, but I cautioned when some were picking Cilic to beat Novak. Cilic did look great beating a tired Murray in the Cincy final and it seemed as though he was getting back to his 2014 USO form. But you never know what can happen in a slam. That’s why I say that they have to get there first.
The heat has taken out Goffin and then Raonic with cramps and now Cilic. It’s tough too see players go out like that, but this is the sport.
I am wondering how far Delpo can go here. He looked good against Johnson last night.
My gamble pick if Harrison over Baggy didn’t pan out.
Monfils just won his match. The NY crowd loves him and he loves them!
Novak lucky again. Why would Cilic cramp so early? Fitness lacking.