U.S. Open R1 previews and predictions: Rublev vs. Seyboth Wild, Etcheverry vs. Mpetshi Perricard

Andrey Rublev will begin another bid for a first-ever major semifinal appearances when he faces Thiago Seyboth Wild at the U.S. Open on Monday. Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard are also in action.

(6) Andrey Rublev vs. Thiago Seyboth Wild

Rublev and Seyboth Wild will be colliding in the first round of a Grand Slam for the second time this year when they meet again at the U.S. Open on Monday. Their only previous showdown was a wild one; at the Australian Open, Rublev squandered a two-set lead and four match points with Seyboth Wild serving at 5-6 in the fifth (including three in a row starting at 0-40) before coming back from a double mini-break down in the ensuing tiebreaker to prevail 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(6).

As that result indicates, Seyboth Wild is dangerous on any surface. However, the 69th-ranked Brazilian is at his best on clay; he has won 194 professional matches on the red stuff while compiling a modest 30-30 record on outdoor hard courts. Seyboth Wild played just one summer hard-court event prior to the U.S. Open, beating James Duckworth and Nuno Borges in Washington, D.C. before losing to Learner Tien 6-4, 6-3. Rublev’s preparation was very encouraging, as he finished runner-up in Montreal and advanced to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati (lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner 4-6, 7-5, 6-4). Rublev arguably should have won their Aussie Open tilt in straight sets; look for him to learn from that great escape and finish the job in much quicker fashion at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Pick: Rublev in 3

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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry

It will be a rematch of a memorable Lyon final when Etcheverry and Mpetshi Perricard meet again on Monday. Their only previous encounter came a few months ago, when Mpetshi Perricard captured his first ATP title in front of his French fans with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(7) victory during which he failed to serve it out at 6-5 in the third set and then saved one championship point in the ensuing tiebreaker.

Mpetshi Perricard’s summer also includes a fourth-round run at Wimbledon, but he lost his second match in Washington, D.C., his first one in Montreal (in qualifying), and his first one in Cincinnati. Although Etcheverry is also in solid but unspectacular form, he has advanced at least one round in five of his last six events. The 34th-ranked Argentine is the superior all-court player and the U.S. Open courts are reportedly not playing particularly fast, so he should have a good chance to avenge his Lyon loss.

Pick: Etcheverry in 5

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