Novak Djokovic’s quest for a second US Open title is off to a rousing start after recording a straight-sets win against Brazilian Joao Souza in the opening round on Monday. The world no. 1 will look to book a place in the round of 32 later tonight when he takes on the ever-dangerous Andreas Haider-Maurer at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Read on below for a preview of this second-round matchup. To make it worth your while, we also broke down the round-of-64 clash between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcel Granollers. You can also check out the women’s side of the draw with our previews of the Williams sisters‘ respective second-round matches.
[sc:Other240banner ]Novak Djokovic stormed into the second round of the US Open with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win over Joao Souza on Monday. It was an excellent performance from the nine-time Grand Slam champion, who needed just 73 minutes to oust the Brazilian. Djokovic, who never faced a single break point against Souza, blasted 24 winners and won 92 percent of his first serve points.
With the victory, Djokovic improved his record in Grand Slam tournaments this year to 20-1. Next up for Djokovic is a second-round clash with Andreas Haider-Maurer. He has a 1-0 record against the Austrian, with their lone meeting coming at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this year. Djokovic defeated Haider-Maurer in the round of 16 in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
Haider-Maurer is coming off an epic 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-1 victory over Vasek Pospisil on Monday. For Haider-Maurer to record a major shock against Djokovic in the second round, the Austrian needs to improve on his first-serve percentage. He only converted 51 percent of his first serves against Pospisil. That simply won’t do against a world-class player like Djokovic.
Djokovic is 8-2 in his last 10 matches. Haider-Maurer, on the other hand, is unbeaten in his last six outings.
Writer’s Prediction
Djokovic (-10,000) breezes past Haider-Maurer in straight sets.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga barged into the second round of the US Open with a resounding 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 win over Jarkko Nieminen on Monday. It was an excellent performance from the 30-year-old, who needed just one hour and 32 minutes to record the straight-sets victory.
Key to Tsonga’s victory was his excellent return. He won 51 percent of his receiving points against Nieminen and even converted six of his nine break point chances. He also found some success in his occasional forays to the net, winning 16 of his 24 points there. With the victory, Tsonga is through to the round of 64 at Flushing Meadows for the seventh time in his career.
Next up for Tsonga is a second-round showdown with Marcel Granollers. This marks the fourth time that Tsonga and Granollers will meet on the ATP World Tour, with Tsonga leading their head-to-head series 2-1. Tsonga won their first two meetings before Granollers stunned the Frenchman in straight sets in Barcelona last April. Granollers is fresh off a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Lukas Lacko in the first round. The Spaniard won 80 percent of his first serve points in a match that lasted just one hour and 42 minutes.
Tsonga is 6-4 in his last 10 matches, while Granollers is 6-4 as well in his last 10 outings.
Writer’s Prediction
Tsonga (-1,100) edges past Granollers in four sets.
