Neither Alex de Minaur nor Francisco Cerundolo is in great form, and both will face big-hitting opponents in round two of the U.S. Open on Thursday. They could be on upset alert against Botic van de Zandschulp and Jan-Lennard Struff, respectively.
Botic van de Zandschulp vs. (6) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur and Van de Zandshulp will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in the U.S. Open second round on Thursday. All four of their previous encounters have gone De Minaur’s way, but Van de Zandschulp has forced a deciding set on two occasions. The Dutchman was especially competitive when they most recently faced each other earlier this year on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam, where De Minaur prevailed 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5.
This could be Van de Zandschulp’s best-ever opportunity to finally get over the hump against one of his nemeses. The world No. 70 is looking both confident and motivated — somewhat surprising developments by his standards — this summer, with a fourth-round performance in Montreal, a quarterfinal showing in Winston-Salem, and a straight-set victory over Jan Choinski on Wednesday. De Minaur, who dismissed Andrea Guerrieri, has not played well since soul-searching defeats at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The seventh-ranked Aussie is vulnerable, and this match will be on the racket of the much bigger-hitting Van de Zandschulp.
Pick: Van de Zandschulp in 4
Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (24) Francisco Cerundolo
This is probably Cerundolo’s least favorite time of year. The 25th-ranked Argentine generally does his best work on the natural surfaces (clay and grass) and on the hard courts of the Miami Masters. Nowhere outside of Miami has he posted any success on this surface. Cerundolo is especially bad at the U.S. Open, where has never made it past the second round in five previous appearances. In trips to Los Cabos, Montreal, and Cincinnati earlier this summer, the 28-year-old won just a single match — and that was by retirement. Cerundolo managed to beat Filip Misolic on Tuesday in New York, but Misolic had not played since February.
Up next for the No. 24 seed is a second meeting with Struff, who lost their only previous encounter on the red clay of Munich last spring. This venue should serve the 36-year-old German much better. He is a respectable 10-10 lifetime in the U.S. Open main draw with victories over Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, and Frances Tiafoe. Struff, who reached the fourth round last summer, disposed of Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday. The world No. 44 is generally the better Grand Slam performer of the two, and that should hold up especially well at this particular slam.
Pick: Struff in 4
WWW?
Yep, expecting the same outcome here!