The fourth of seven hurdles on Novak Djokovic’s path to the Grand Slam is a relatively-unknown 20-year-old American. But Jenson Brooksby has the ability to deeply frustrate opponents, and could do just that against the 20-time Major champion.
Bianca Andreescu is now 10-0 at this event, and seems to be rounding into form after a disappointing season. But she faces Maria Sakkari, who is having a great season, and played an epic match against Bianca this past March in Miami, in a match decided by a third set tiebreak.
Also on Monday, Olympic gold medalists Sascha Zverev and Belinda Bencic take on two other dangerous, fast-rising 20-year-olds. And two of the first week’s most exciting players, Shelby Rogers and Emma Raducanu, will play for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Each day, this preview will analyze the five most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Monday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Iga Swiatek (7) vs. Belinda Bencic (11) – 11:00am on Louis Armstrong Stadium
Swiatek is the only WTA player to reach the second week at all four Majors this year. However, she’s only gone beyond the fourth round once, back in June at the French Open. These two players met seven months ago in Adelaide, with Iga comfortably prevailing 6-2, 6-2. But Bencic is a much different player now, coming off her gold medal in singles and silver medal in doubles at the Olympics. She’s won 12 of her last 13, and is yet to drop a set this fortnight. Swiatek has gritted her way through back-to-back tough victories, but overcoming a red-hot, uber-confident Bencic may be too much to ask.
Sascha Zverev (4) vs. Jannik Sinner (13) – 12:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium
They played twice last fall, and split the two meetings. Sinner upset Zverev at Roland Garros, while the German avenged that loss a few weeks later in Cologne. Sascha explained he was sick during their French Open encounter, which seemed an odd omission to make during a surging pandemic. Jannik would later question that claim, telling Italian Newspaper Corriere he thought Zverev was just making excuses for his loss. So there is definitely some bad blood between these two. Considering the way Zverev has been easing his way through this draw, and his current 14-match win streak, the higher seed remains the favorite to advance. Sinner’s results are continually improving, but he is coming off a tiring five-setter with Gael Monfils, which won’t help his chances on Monday.
Shelby Rogers vs. Emma Raducanu (Q) – Second on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Rogers’ comeback from 5-2 down in the third to upset World No.1 Ash Barty in a tiebreak was scintillating. A year ago, she also pulled off some late night magic at this event, saving three match points in a third set tiebreak to take out Petra Kvitova. Can she return to the quarterfinals for the second straight year? Raducanu was impressive in a whole different way on Saturday, utterly dominating Sara Sorribes Tormo, one of this season’s toughest outs, by a score of 6-0, 6-1. Through six matches these past two weeks, including qualifying, Emma has not dropped a set, or even been pushed to a tiebreak. Returning to the round of 16 at the very next Major after she had to retire in this round of Wimbledon due to breathing issues is quite remarkable. Based on current form, Emma is the favorite. But as Shelby mentioned in her on-court interview after defeating Barty, the crowd has often been the entity deciding who wins this past week, and they will certainly be strongly behind the American.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Jenson Brooksby – 7:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium
This would seem like a generous fourth round draw for Djokovic, but Brooksby has quickly become a force. He hits a heavy ball, and possesses a strong tennis IQ. At tour level this summer, he’s 11-3, having reached the final of Newport, and the semifinals of Washington. But I question how fresh he will be having already played 13 sets through three matches, especially for a player not accustomed to best-of-five tennis. While the crowd will certainly boost his energy, Djokovic should be able to advance, though likely after the American causes him some frustration.
Bianca Andreescu (6) vs. Maria Sakkari (17) – Last on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Let’s hope this is at least half as good as their aforementioned classic earlier this year in Miami. That was the last event Andreescu played at the level we have come to expect from the 2019 champion. Since that tournament, she was only 4-6 before arriving in New York. But after grinding her way through a tough opening round against Viktorija Golubic, she’s rediscovered her form on the same grounds where she won her Major title. But Sakkari has played excellently throughout the year, and comfortably closed out all six sets she played last week, including a solid win over two-time Slam champ Petra Kvitova. In that match, she won 89% of first serve points. Andreescu’s returning was one of the keys to her triumph here two years ago, which will be crucial against a player protecting their serve so well. But with Bianca getting her mojo back, I’m not betting against her.
Other Notable Matches on Monday:
Reilly Opelka (22) vs. Lloyd Harris – The 24-year-old “Servebot” is yet to drop a set, and has taken nine of his last 11 matches. Harris upset Rafael Nadal last month in Washington, and Denis Shapovalov two days ago here. When they played just a few weeks ago in Toronto, Opelka prevailed in a third set tiebreak.
Matteo Berrettini (6) vs. Oscar Otte (Q) – Otte is one of four qualifiers to make the fourth round in singles, and also came through qualifying at Wimbledon, eventually winning his main draw opening round 13-12 in the fifth. Berrettini won in five on Saturday against Ilya Ivashka. Three years ago at Roland Garros, Matteo defeated Oscar in four sets.
Karolina Pliskova (4) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (13) – It’s the Wimbledon runner-up against the Roland Garros runner-up. Pliskova claimed their first sets meetings, though Pavlyuchenkova has won the last two.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.
