TENNIS NEWS / 10SBALLS SHARES RICKY’S PICKS FOR DAY 9 AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN: DJOKOVIC VS. TSONGA AND MONFILS VS. POUILLE

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2016

TENNIS NEWS / 10SBALLS SHARES RICKY'S PICKS FOR DAY 9 AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN: DJOKOVIC VS. TSONGA AND MONFILS VS. POUILLE

epa05524816 Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Kyle Edmund of Britain on the seventh day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2016. The US Open runs through 11 September. EPA/JASON SZENES |

By Ricky Dimon

Tuesday at the U.S. Open will have a decidedly French flavor, at least in the department of men’s singles. Of the four players remaining in the top half of the draw, a whopping three are Frenchmen. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is going up against Novak Djokovic, while Gael Monfils is set to battle compatriot Lucas Pouille.

Ricky previews the action and makes his predictions:

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France hits a return to James Duckworth of Australia on the third day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Djokovic and Tsonga will be meeting for the 22nd time in their careers when vie for a semifinal spot. The head-to-head series stands at 15-6 in favor of the Serb, who once trailed Tsonga 5-2 but has won 10 of their last 11 matches dating back to 2011. They have squared off once this year, with the world No. 1 prevailing 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in the Indian Wells quarterfinals.

Even though Djokovic is first in the 2016 race to the World Tour Finals and the defending champion of this tournament, he headed into Flushing Meadows as a bit of a question mark. He lost early at Wimbledon to Sam Querrey and right away at the Rio Olympics to Juan Martin Del Potro amidst concerns of a minor wrist injury. But a routine opening week at the U.S. Open may have been just what the doctor ordered for Djokovic, who got a walkover past Jiri Vesely and a retirement courtesy of Mikhail Youzhny in addition to victories over Jerzy Janowicz and Kyle Edmund. Tsonga has advanced by beating Guido Andreozzi, James Duckworth, Kevin Anderson, and Jack Sock. The world No. 11 is now a three-time quarterfinalist at this event, but he has never reached the last four. Djokovic raised his level considerably against Edmund, so there is reason to believe he will continue his recent mastery of Tsonga.

Pick: Djokovic in 4

(10) Gael Monfils vs. (24) Lucas Pouille

There’s nothing quite like tennis. On Wednesday of the first week, Pouille was one Marco Chiudinelli service hold from falling in the second round in straight sets to an opponent ranked 144th in the world. Four days later, Pouille found himself in the quarters of the year’s last major after upsetting Rafael Nadal in a five-set thriller. The world No. 25’s 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6) triumph marked a third straight match in which he went the distance, having previously survived Chiudinelli and Roberto Bautista Agut in five (4-6, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-0 and 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1). Through four matches, Pouille–who opened with a four-set win over Mikhail Kukushkin–has contested 19 of 20 possible sets. The 22-year-old now owns 25 of his 40 career ATP-level match wins in 2016 and he is expected to reach 18th in the rankings even if he loses on Tuesday.

Gael Monfils of France hits a return to Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus on the seventh day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Speaking of five-setters, the only previous contest between these two Frenchmen came in the first round of last season’s Australian Open, won by Monfils 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-4 6-1, 6-4. The 10th seed has left the five-set drama this fortnight entirely to his younger countryman; in fact, he has not even dropped a single set through four rounds. Monfils has maintained his impressive, no-nonsense 2016 form by thrashing Gilles Muller, Jan Satral, Nicolas Almagro, and Marcos Baghdatis. His 39-11 record for the year features the biggest title of his career in Washington, D.C. and it has him in serious London contention.

Pick: Monfils in 3