.Third-round action at the U.S. Open begins along with a third-round face-off between Ben Shelton and also Frances Tiafoe on Friday. Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin are likewise aiming for an area in the typical 2nd week of the tournament.Here are my picks for two of Friday's absolute best competitions.( 13) Ben Shelton vs. (twenty) Frances Tiafoe.
It's a rematch of the final summertime's united state Open quarterfinals, as well as this moment Shelton is available in with some expectations. As a matter of fact, he is actually the favored versus Tiafoe-- which wasn't the scenario in 2023. Shelton was the underdog in their previous USA Open tilt, but he succeeded it in four collections and came to be an unpleasant surprise semifinalist who thrilled New York crowds along with his booming serve and also big-stage charisma.
Each Shelton and Tiafoe are playing well at the moment. The former appeared self-assured in his straight-set draw Roberto Bautista Agut on Wednesday. The 21-year-old made the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Professional previously this month. Tiafoe made it right to the Cincy ultimate just before catching Jannik Sinner.
Shelton is an ideal 2-0 in the neck and neck series. Look for it to be 3-0 when this one ends.
Pick: Shelton in 4( 28) Alexei Popyrin vs. (2) Novak DjokovicDjokovic as well as Popyrin will be actually squaring off at a third major in 2024 when they meet again on Friday. They also went head-to-head at the Australian Open as well as Wimbledon, along with Djokovic finishing the job in 4 collections both times to take possession of an overall 3-0 top in the H2H set. He additionally dominated 6-4, 6-2 at the 2019 Tokyo activity.
As those affordable Conquest encounters along with Djokovic suggest, Popyrin is actually participating in the most ideal tennis of his occupation this year-- and also it is actually certainly not also shut. He depends on 28th in the positions thanks partially to a Professional thousand title in Montreal therefore far in NYC the Aussie has positively punished both Soonwoo Kwon and also Pedro Martinez. Sadly for Pop, Djoker has actually won 18 sets in succession dating back to the Olympics. The 24-time bang champ has certainly not given up a set to anyone other than Carlos Alcaraz due to the fact that he shed one to none other than Popyrin in the Wimbledon 3rd round.
Pick: Djokovic in 3Ricky adds to 10sballs. com as well as also preserves his personal ping pong internet site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.