Rafael Nadal will continue his U.S. Open campaign when he goes up against Andrey Kuznetsov on Friday. Jo-Wilfied Tsonga and Kevin Anderson are also aiming for a fourth-round spot in the top half of the draw.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. Andrey Kuznetsov
Already a two-time champion of the U.S. Open, Nadal made a little bit more history at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday night when he and Andreas Seppi played the first match under the closed roof in Arthur Ashe Stadium. As for the actual contest, itself, there was little intrigue. Nadal rolled over the Italian 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 and has surrendered only 13 total games through two rounds. Thus continues a stellar comeback from wrist problems for the fifth-ranked Spaniard, who had been sidelined since the second round of the French Open before finishing fourth at the Rio Olympics in men’s singles.
Up next for Nadal on Friday is a fourth career encounter with Kuznetsov, whom he has already defeated twice in 2016. The Russian was competitive in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 Doha quarterfinal loss, but he got blown out 6-3, 6-3 on the clay courts of Madrid. They also faced each other at Roland Garros last spring, when Nadal cruised 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. This Grand Slam should give Kuznetsov a better chance, as he is through to the third round for the second time in just three appearances thanks to wins over Thomaz Bellucci (four) and Albert Ramos-Vinolas (straight). The world No. 47 will likely trouble his opponent at times with his flat, early ball-striking, but if Nadal can minimize his forehand errors he should be able to finish the job in three sets.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11-14 games
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(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (23) Kevin Anderson
Tsonga and Anderson will be going head-to-head for only the third time in their careers on Friday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Tsonga’s way; 7-6(14), 7-6(5) on the clay courts of Rome in 2014 and 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 at last season’s Shanghai Masters. This year has been a decent one for the Frenchman, who owns a 26-13 record and is hovering just outside the top 10 at 11th in the rankings. Trying to make amends for early losses at the Olympics and Cincinnati Masters, Tsonga has advanced in New York with a straight-set beatdown of Guido Andreozzi and a four-set win over James Duckworth.
Anderson’s 2016 campaign has been plagued by shoulder and ankle injuries, to the extent that he was a mere 10-15 prior to this fortnight. But the 35th-ranked South African is starting to make progress in his comeback, as his hard-court summer has been highlighted by two decent showings at the Masters 1000 events (quarterfinals in Toronto, third round in Cincinnati). Anderson punched his ticket to the U.S. Open third round by taking care of Yoshihito Nishioka and Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. This is when the competition ratchets up, however, and–not counting retirements–the 23rd seed has not defeated anyone ranked as high as Tsonga since the Shanghai Masters last October (Kei Nishikori).
Pick: Tsonga in 4
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