RICKY’S DAY 7 PICKS AT THE U.S. OPEN, INCLUDING DJOKOVIC VS. BAUTISTA AGUT AND TSONGA VS. PAIRE

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2015

Feliciano Lopez of Spain serves to Milos Raonic of Canada during their match on the fifth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

epa04913815 Feliciano Lopez of Spain serves to Milos Raonic of Canada during their match on the fifth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Ricky D’s Day 7 picks at the 2015 U.S. Open Tennis including Novak Djokovic vs. Bautista Agut and Jo -Willi Tsonga vs. Benoit Paire a For an all French Duel

Third-round action will wrap up with busy slates in both Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums. Novak Djokovic will get night-session treatment as he faces Roberto Bautista Agut. During the day, an all-French affair between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Benoit Paire should be eagerly anticipated.

Previews and picks for some of Saturday’s schedule:

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (23) Roberto Bautista Agut

Most would have considered a Djokovic vs. David Goffin rematch more appetizing. In their recent Cincinnati clash, Goffin led by a double-break in the third set before the world No. 1 stormed back. The Belgian seemed to be on his way toward getting another shot at Djokovic before succumbing to illness while facing Bautista Agut. There is really no other way to say that an out-of-form Bautista Agut needed an assist from Goffin in order to advance. Djokovic has been mostly crushing people so far at the U.S. Open and more of the same should continue on Sunday. Djokovic in 3.

Benoit Paire vs. (19) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga and Paire on the same tennis court at the same time is a recipe for wild entertainment. It also could produce an upset. Paire shocked Kei Nishikori in round one, saving two match points in the process. Based on the way he stormed through his next two matches with no-nonsense performances, it can be said that the win over Nishikori will turn out to be career-changing. This seems like a new Paire. The question is: is this the old Tsonga who used to be an outside contender for slam titles? This season has mostly been a struggle for the 19th seed, who played well in Montreal but lost to Fernando Verdasco in his Cincinnati opener. At the latter event, Paire beat an in-form Gilles Muller and played Novak Djokovic relatively tough. This should be a spectacular show regardless of the scoreline. A long five-setter would just be icing on the cake. Paire in 5.

Benoit Paire of France hits a return to Kei Nishikori of Japan the first day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

(18) Feliciano Lopez vs. (32) Fabio Fognini

In perhaps the most bizarre head-to-head stat you will ever see, Lopez and Fognini have never played each other. That’s right; not once. Fognini has been on tour for 12 years; Lopez is in his…wait for it…19th season. They play many of the same tournaments on a weekly basis and generally advance a decent way in plenty of them. Nonetheless, Sunday marks their first meeting. Both needed one five-setter in order to make it a reality. Lopez benefited from a worn-out Mardy Fish, while Fognini staged an improbably epic comeback from two sets down to stun Rafael Nadal on Friday night. The ever-solid Spaniard is playing some of the best tennis of his career at 33 years old. Solid, off course, is what Fognini is not. Asking for another great performance from the mercurial Italian less than 48 hours his huge third-round upset is too much. Lopez in 4.

(9) Marin Cilic vs. (27) Jeremy Chardy

Quite simply, 2014 was Cilic’s year. He won the U.S. Open, finished in the top 10, and earned a spot in the World Tour Finals. Fast forward one season and in the case of these two players, the tide has turned. This is Chardy’s year. No, the Frenchman is not going to win the U.S. Open and he is not going to make a trip the World Tour Finals. But he is surging toward the top 20 thanks in part to a semifinal showing in Montreal earlier this summer. Chardy’s recent hot streak gained further momentum when he trounced David Ferrer in four sets on Friday. Cilic, meanwhile, needed five to get past Mikhail Kukuskin. In this big-hitting battle between two of the nicest guys on tour, an upset is in the cards. Chardy in 4.

Jeremy Chardy of France hits a return to David Ferrer of Spain during their match on the fifth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, Benoit Paire, Fabio Fognini, Feliciano Lopez, Jeremy Chardy, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roberto Bautista Agut, Tennis News, US Open

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10sBalls_com says:

September 5, 2015 at 10:17 pm

-@Dimonator’s DAY 7 PICKS AT THE #USOpen, INCLUDING @DjokerNole VS. @BautistaAgut AND @tsonga7 VS. @benoitpaire- http://t.co/iZMpGYeozQ #ATP
Dimonator says:

September 6, 2015 at 4:20 am

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s DAY 7 PICKS AT THE #USOpen, INCLUDING @DjokerNole VS. @BautistaAgut AND @tsonga7 VS. @benoitpaire- http://t…