RICKY’S DAY 4 PICKS AT THE U.S. OPEN, INCLUDING FEDERER VS. DARCIS AND TOMIC VS. HEWITT

Written by: Staff on 3rd September 2015

RICKY'S DAY 4 PICKS AT THE U.S. OPEN, INCLUDING FEDERER VS. DARCIS AND TOMIC VS. HEWITT

epa04908223 Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their match on the second day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Ricky’s Day 4 picks at the U.S. Open, including Roger Federer vs. Steve Darcis and Bernie Tomic vs. Lleyton Hewitt

The evening hours on Thursday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center may be the ones to be at, as the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Grandstand look especially intriguing. Roger Federer is getting night-session treatment on Ashe, while an all-Aussie showdown between Bernard Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt will wrap up play on the Grandstand as the second round of the U.S. Open concludes.

Previews and picks for some of Thursday’s schedule:

Steve Darcis vs. (2) Roger Federer

Although the sample size is small, Federer is undefeated during this current American hard-court swing. The 34-year-old Swiss warmed up for the season’s final Grand Slam only in Cincinnati, where he rolled to the title without dropping a set or even his serve. Federer maintained his fine form by crushing Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday. Darcis has done almost nothing this summer, but for the most part he has played good tennis in 2015 and the resurgent Belgian is back up to No. 66 in the world. This will be entertaining in spurts if Darcis’ one-handed backhand is clicking, but there is no reason why a supremely confident Federer should be troubled in the least. Federer in 3.

(24) Bernard Tomic vs. (WC) Lleyton Hewitt

It’s Hewitt’s last year at the U.S. Open. It’s also the Grandstand’s final hurrah. Put the two together–especially in an evening setting–and an epic five-setter seems destined. Having Tomic on the other side of the net makes this an even more intriguing situation. It’s an all-Aussie showdown between two players at very different points in their respective careers and with very different demeanors on court. In terms of style, this matchup should produce a plethora of extended baseline rallies. Neither man will be particularly to pull the trigger early in groundstroke exchanges. Tomic is in decent but unspectacular form, so it’s not like Hewitt is going to get blown off the court. It would be fitting if the veteran wins a five-set thriller. Hewitt in 5.

(29) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Lukas Rosol

Kohlschreiber is the man who took down Rosol two days after the Czech had stunned Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012. The overall head-to-head series stands at 3-1. Interestingly, they have never faced each other on a hard court. But this surface is not likely to give Rosol much of an advantage–especially not at this particular tournament. Rosol had never won a single U.S. Open match in his entire career until he got the best of young American Jared Donaldson on Tuesday. Kohlschreiber, on the other hand, is a staple of the second week in New York. The German won’t make it there this year, but that won’t be because of Rosol. It will be due to Roger Federer waiting in the third round. Kohlschreiber in 4.

(13) John Isner vs. Mikhail Youzhny

Early rounds of the U.S. Open have not always been kind to Isner. Facing Kohlschreiber would be far worse (the German has defeated Isner in the third round of this event a ridiculous three years in succession). But going up against Youzhny is not ideal–at least not according to past history. The Russian leads the head-to-head series 2-0 and beat Isner in the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open. That being said, this is no longer the same Youzhny who once churned out second-week appearances in New York left and right. Combine the veteran’s recent woes with the fact that Isner seems to be over his knee injury (he thrashed Malek Jaziri in straight sets on Tuesday) and this should be a straightforward affair. Isner in 3.

John Isner of the US hits a return to Malek Jaziri of Tunisia during their match on the second day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JASON SZENES

(30) Thomaz Bellucci vs. Yoshihito Nishioka

For whatever it’s worth, these two guys had an enjoyable practice session battle in Washington, D.C. last month while working on their games after they were both already out of the tournament. Needless to say, the two lefties are both alive and well in New York. Nishioka, who had to qualify, has already endured plenty of tough matches in the heat but can probably handle it just fine at 19 years old. With both men in solid form (Bellucci played well enough this summer to sneak into one of the last seeded positions), this should be a high-quality contest. The Brazilian’s experience–especially at the Grand Slam level–will be the difference. Bellucci in 5.

(5) Stan Wawrinka vs. Hyeon Chung

Chung has made a name for himself in 2015; at just 19 years old, he is already up to No. 69 in the world. The Korean won one match in Washington, D.C., qualified for the Montreal main draw, reached the third round in Winston-Salem, and on Tuesday he thrashed James Duckworth 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. Up next for the teenager may be the toughest test of his career–a second-round showdown at a major with a two-time major champion. Wawrinka has endured some well-documented struggles both on and off the court since winning the French Open, but he managed to scrape through a few matches in Cincinnati to reach the quarterfinals and he kicked things off in New York with a decent performance as he got past Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(6). Wawrinka in 3.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Bernard Tomic, Hyeon Chung, John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, Lukas Rosol, Mikhail Youzhny, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Stan Wawrinka, Steve Darcis, Tennis, Thomaz Bellucci, U.S. Open, Yoshihito Nishioka

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10sBalls_com says:

September 3, 2015 at 11:11 am

-@Dimonator’s DAY 4 PICKS AT THE @usopen, INCLUDING @rogerfederer VS. @stevedarcishark AND TOMIC VS. @lleytonhewitt- http://t.co/IGYLSdrmPN