Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios will continue their U.S. Open campaigns with spots in the fourth round at stake on Saturday. They are set for respective showdowns against Joao Sousa and Illya Marchenko.
Joao Sousa vs. (22) Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov and Sousa will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers (third at the ATP level) when they battle during third-round action at the U.S. Open on Saturday. Interestingly, they faced each other in round one of this tournament three years ago, when Sousa prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. That gave Portugal’s top player a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head series (a 2008 indoor Challenger result included) before Dimitrov got on the scoreboard with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory last fall in Kuala Lumpur.
The 24th-ranked Bulgarian slumped through the first half of the this season, but he heated up during the hard-court summer in time for 2016’s final Grand Slam with a quarterfinal performance in Toronto and a semifinal run in Cincinnati. The 22nd seed has continued his winning ways by taking out Inigo Cervantes in straight sets and Jeremy Chardy in five. Sousa is through to the last 32 of a major for the third time this year following defeats of Victor Estrella Burgos (6-0, 6-1, 6-1) and Feliciano Lopez (6-2, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5). Still, the world No. 36 is just 20-26 for his 2016 campaign. The third round of slams has proven to be Sousa’s Waterloo and an in-form Dimitrov will likely extend the trend.
Pick: Dimitrov in 4
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(14) Nick Kyrgios vs. Illya Marchenko
Oh, the benefits of being seeded at a Grand Slam. Last summer, an unseeded Kyrgios had to go up against Andy Murray in the very first round. Fast forward 12 months and the 21-year-old Australian has climbed to 16th in the world, good for the No. 14 seed in Flushing Meadows. With a favorable draw at his disposal, Kyrgios hammered Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 before taking care of Horacio Zeballos via an almost identical 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 scoreline. The recent Atlanta champion is a stellar 33-12 for the season, although that title is really his only notable result since a Madrid quarterfinal back in May.
For the first time in his career, Marchenko is finally making an appearance in the third round of a slam. The 28-year-old Ukrainian edged Ivan Dodig 7-5 in the fourth and then crushed Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday. Armed with a rare clean bill of health, Marchenko repaired his ranking earlier this season with consistent success on the Challenger circuit but had been 11-16 at the ATP level prior to this fortnight (including 0-9 in his last nine tour-level tournament matches). As the competition level ratchets up dramatically from what Dodig and Dzumhur brought to the table, Marchenko will likely see his run come to an end amidst an onslaught of Kyrgios serves.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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I like Dimitrov in 4….but should be a FUN match to watch…and Kyrios in straight
Bracket pick Grigor. But this could go the distance, I think.
Go Nick! in 3.
Really sad for Nick. Could barely move out there by the end. You could tell Marchenko really was so relieved though this is a great moment for him to make the round of 16. It was his first third round at a slam and now his first fourth round. Kyrgios looked really torn about it. He was just so solemn at the end. Really quite a shame. I’m pretty happy Stan gets Marchenko instead though lol. And man Stan was insanely clutch in the fourth set breaker against Evans. Down 5-6 he hit an angle forehand volley winner and he hit a second serve ace at 8-8. Overall I don’t think he played too well though. Great fight though. It’s another year where he gets a great draw. I mean it didn’t look like one at first but the fact that he ended up getting Giannessi, Evans, and Marchenko after Nando in round one is insane. Del Po or Thiem in the quarters will be tough though. Hopefully Stan raises his level next match which I think he will. He finished strong against Evans so hopefully he carries the momentum over. And dang McEnroe was really thrashing Kyrgios he was talking about how he shouldn’t play if he doesn’t love it and like how he doesn’t work hard enough and I mean he’s not really wrong but like my opinion on Kyrgios is that he has these flaws right now but as he gets older or really when or if he starts to make deeper runs or maybe win a slam he will start to love the sport more. I mean if he didn’t love the sport when he was younger why would he have cried after his 2014 Wimbledon wins over Gasquet and Nadal or fall to the ground after that win over Seppi in AO 2015. I mean maybe that’s just because he was younger at the time and couldn’t believe it and was on the rise but still I dunno he’s a bit of a mystery. Such fantastic talent though which is why I still root for him in most matches he plays.
I only watched the last few games but I read he had a really puzzling display after a great first set so I guess it supposedly wasn’t just a physical issue. C’mon Nick come back strong.
I mean he did seem really sad about the injury. The problem is that he started to tank when he was injured instead of try to fight through it. That’s what the issue was and why Johnny Mac was ripping Kyrgios for his effort and lack of determination and stuff. Nick was almost in tears when he knew he couldn’t go on any longer though so it was a sad moment for him. I hope he recovers soon. I don’t think he really has any points to defend the rest of the season anyways so if this injury affects him for the remainder it shouldn’t hurt his ranking too much.
Kyrgios only loves tennis when it’s easy for him. Do you remember how many times Raonic, of all people, broke his serve the match after his big win vs Nadal at Wimbledon? He cannot, will not, do the hard yards. I’m not talking about tonight especially. I don’t know what his pain level was or how serious his hip problem is. I do know you wouldn’t have gotten any of the top guys out of there while they could stand up. The guy has said he only plays tennis because he has no idea what else to do with his life. He’s a jerk. Maybe he’ll grow up in time, maybe not. Not the first jerk kid tennis has had and not even the most talented jerk kid. Certainly not the last.
Was pretty sure that the breaks number wasn’t that high so I went to check it. In their four set Wimbledon quarterfinals Kyrgios was broken by Raonic four times.
Average – 1 break per set. Is it really that high lol?
For Raonic, who never breaks anyone? At least he didn’t back then. Yes, that’s high.
nick just gave up after a good first set against andy at wimby as well. just went completely. he has the talent but completely lacks the qualities that make a great champion ie tenacity, patience, diligence. he has none of these and the problem is that his temperament works completely in the opposite direction. he’s overhyped IMO.
i don’t mind him in the ways i used to though. think he has matured a bit.