U.S. Open R4 preview and prediction: Tsonga vs. Sock

Cincinnati champion Marin Cilic was looking like a potential U.S. Open winner; then Jack Sock happened. Sock upset the 2014 champ on Friday and his reward is a surprising fourth-round showdown against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Labor Day weekend.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jack Sock will be going head-to-head for just the second time in their careers when they battle for place in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday. Their only previous encounter came last season on the clay courts of Madrid, and to say it did not disappoint would be an understatement. A final-set tiebreaker had to decide the outcome, with Tsonga getting the job done 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4).

Speaking of thrillers, Tsonga’s 2015 U.S. Open campaign came to an end in a contentious five-set quarterfinal contest against Marin Cilic. The 11th-ranked Frenchman may have thought he would get another shot at the 2014 champion, but instead it was Sock who stunned Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on Friday afternoon. This a much-needed result for Sock in Flushing Meadows, because he had been forced to retire with heat-related issues during early-round action in both 2014 and 2015. Prior to upsetting Cilic, the 27th-ranked American outlasted compatriot Taylor Fritz in five sets and clobbered Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

Tsonga, who has a history of success at this event, is through to the last 16 thanks to defeats of Guido Andreozzi, James Duckworth, and Kevin Anderson. Only Duckworth managed to steal even one set. Like Sock, Tsonga could really use a deep run this fortnight. After all, the ninth seed is coming off early setbacks at the Olympics and in Cincinnati and he is still just 27-13 for the year.

This is Tsonga’s fifth trip to the last 16 at the U.S. Open and he has been to the quarterfinals twice, whereas Sock had been to this stage of a major only once before (lost to Rafael Nadal at the 2015 French Open). Based on experience and how overpowering Tsonga has looked through three matches, the favorite should be able to end Sock’s impressive showing in New York.

Pick: Tsonga in 4

[polldaddy poll=9512081]