U.S. Open R3 previews and predictions: Djokovic vs. Struff, Shapovalov vs. Fritz

Novak Djokovic and Jan-Lennard Struff will be facing each other for the second time in the bubble when they meet again in the U.S. Open third round on Friday. Another all-seeded showdown pits Denis Shapovalov against Taylor Fritz.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (28) Jan-Lennard Struff

If not for Novak Djokovic, Jan-Lennard Struff could potentially be in the top 20 right now. The 29th-ranked German has lost to Djokovic twice in the last four Grand Slams and at last week’s Cincinnati Masters, dropping to 0-4 lifetime in the head-to-head series. Struff succumbed twice with a lot of points on the line (fourth round of the 2019 French Open, Cincinnati quarterfinals) and he had to play the world No. 1 in round one of this year’s Australian Open.

The 30-year-old has already produced another good result at a big tournament, having crushed both Pedro Martinez and Michael Mmoh so far this week. Djokovic is 7-0 in the bubble with a Cincinnati title and U.S. Open victories over Damir Dzumhur and Kyle Edmund. Although Edmund actually took first set in a tiebreaker, Struff may not be able to steal one. The underdog is 1-10 lifetime in total sets against Djokovic and he managed to win only four total games last week.

Pick: Djokovic in 3 with no tiebreakers

(12) Denis Shapovalov vs. (19) Taylor Fritz

Shapovalov and Fritz will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers on Friday. Both of their previous encounters have gone the way of Shapovalov, who prevailed 7-5, 6-4 at the 2018 Delray Beach tournament and 7-6(6), 6-3 at last year’s Davis Cup Finals.

Round three of the U.S. Open is nothing new for the 21-year-old Canadian, who has now advanced to this stage four times in his young career. He did so by beating both Sebastian Korda and Soonwoo Kwon in four sets. Fritz got here with mostly routine victories over Dominik Koepfer and Gilles Simon. The 22-year-old American has never been to the fourth round in New York (Shapovalov has made it once) and this is another substantial roadblock that stands in his way. Fritz should take a set this time, but Shapovalov will likely improve to 3-0 in the head-to-head series.

Pick: Shapovalov in 4