Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz will continue their U.S. Open campaigns when second-round action resumes on Thursday. Hurkacz is going up against Jack Draper, while Sinner faces fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Jack Draper vs. (17) Hubert Hurkacz
Hurkacz has a second lease on life at the U.S. Open after coming back from two sets down against Marc-Andrea Huesler on Tuesday. The 17th-ranked Pole battled to a 4-6, 5-7, 7-6(0), 6-3, 6-1 victory, but it lasted only three hours and 12 minutes so he will be absolute fine physically moving forward. It was a much-needed win for Hurkacz, who has never advanced past round two in New York and hasn’t been beyond the fourth round of any Grand Slam since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021.
Up next for the 26-year-old on Thursday is Draper, who trails the head-to-head series 2-0. Hurkacz prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-1 last fall in Antwerp and 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5 this spring in Monte-Carlo. Draper, who dismissed Radu Albot 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in round one, has plenty of talent but has been dealing with injuries throughout the 2023 campaign. With a big victory under his belt, Hurkacz should have the physical edge against Draper in a best-of-five situation–and in any situation for that matter.
Pick: Hurkacz in 3
Lorenzo Sonego vs. (6) Jannik Sinner
It will be an all-Italian affair when Sinner and Sonego also square off for the third time in their careers. Sinner won both of their previous encounters earlier this season (6-4, 6-2 on the indoor hard courts of Montpellier and 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 on the grass of Halle).
Since those meetings, Sinner has gone nowhere but up–firmly establishing himself as one of the best players in the game. The world No. 6’s outstanding year continued on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 beatdown of Yannick Hanfmann in which Hanfmann did not play poorly. Sonego opened by beating qualifier Nicolas Moreno de Alboran 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. The world No. 39 is one of those guys who rarely loses to lower-ranked opponents but doesn’t seriously trouble opponents when he is a heavy underdog. That is a trend that will likely continue on Thursday.
Pick: Sinner in 3
WWW?
Agree with these Ricky, but think Sonego might win a set. He’s had some decent results this year.
Hubie in 4 (Draper gets a set)
Sinner in 4 (Sonego gets a set)
But my ATP bracket is skidding along on the bottom. There were too many names I did not recognize or even know, and I was too lazy to look up.
Jack is really murdering Hubie atm judging by live scores.