Day 4 at the 2024 US Open will see the top half of the men’s and women’s draws battle it out in the second round. Fans are in for plenty of action as the opening three days have already provided plenty of enthralling tennis and witnessed several upsets too.
Holger Rune, Alexander Bublik, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, were among the big names in the men’s draw to be eliminated in the first round. Ugo Humbert, Francisco Cerundolo, and Sebastien Baez followed suit in the second round.
Top-ten stars Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, and home favorites Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe advanced comfortably through their second-round matches. Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka, meanwhile, staged impressive comebacks, fighting back from 2 sets down to eventually secure their victories.
With plenty more second-round action in store on Day 4, here’s a look at the predictions for a few of the men’s singles matches.
#5 Arthur Fils vs Gabriel Dialo
Twenty-fourth seed Arthur Fils began his US Open campaign with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over local player Learner Tien. He served well, winning 77% of points on his first serve and hitting 5 aces. His net play was particularly impressive, as he won 21 out of 30 points at the net.
Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo, on the other hand, secured his first-ever Grand Slam win by defeating Spain’s Jaume Munar in four sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. His all-court game was outstanding, as he recorded 64 winners and 20 aces.
Fils heads into this match as the favorite due to his superior big-match experience and his dominant performance on serve and at the net in his opener. Having already reached the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this year, he will be eager to make a deep run at another major.
Diallo, in contrast, has played just seven professional matches this year and currently holds a 3-4 record. However, he can draw confidence from his performances at Flushing Meadows, particularly his strong serving.
Pick: Fils in four sets.
#4 Matteo Arnaldi vs Roman Safiullin
Matteo Arnaldi cruised past American youngster Zachary Svajda with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory in his opener. Roman Safiullin, meanwhile, defeated another local, Matthew Forbes, in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-2. Both players were dominant on serve and particularly impressive at the net.
Arnaldi has been in excellent form on hardcourts recently, and he carried that momentum into his US Open first-round match. He was dominant in nearly every aspect of his game and looks like a formidable contender going forward. His best result at a Grand Slam came at the same venue last year when he reached the fourth round, and he looks keen to replicate that success and more.
Safiullin, on the other hand, leads Arnaldi 1-0 in their head-to-head record, having won their only previous encounter in straight sets at Brisbane earlier this year. His hardcourt performance throughout the year has been solid, and he will be eager to advance beyond the second round at the US Open, a stage he has never reached before.
Arnaldi’s rich vein of form on the American hardcourts this year and superior record at the Flushing Meadows should give him the edge over his Russian counterpart despite going down to him earlier. We can expect a thrilling encounter, nonetheless.
Pick: Arnaldi in five sets.
#3 Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Nuno Borges
Thanasi Kokkinakis kicked off his US Open campaign by emphatically upsetting 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Nuno Borges on the other hand dismissed Federico Coria 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in just an hour and 41 minutes.
Kokkinakis has had a disappointing 11-13 match record this season but has impressed on American hardcourts. His serve was exceptional in his opener, winning an impressive 78% of points behind his first serve and recording 17 aces. His underrated net game also paid off, as he won 80% of the points when coming forward.
Borges, on the other hand, is in the middle of a breakthrough season that has already seen him capture his first ATP crown at the Nordea Open against Rafael Nadal. He played a tactically brilliant match. His return game was outstanding, winning 52% of his return points and converting 7 out of 15 break-point opportunities. He hit 39 winners out of a total of 93 points won and only committed 22 unforced errors.
Borges enters this contest as the favorite to go through, given his better form on the ATP tour this year. Neither player has made it past the second round in New York before so both of them will be playing for a lot.
Pick: Borges in four sets.
#2 Alex de Minaur vs Otto Virtanen
Tenth-seed Alex de Minaur kicked off his US Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over the in-form American Marcos Giron in his first match since Wimbledon. Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen continued his rich form in the ‘Big Apple’ with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 win over Quentin Halys.
The Australian was superb in his opener bar the minor hiccup in the third set, showing no signs of rust having not played a competitive match in almost 2 months. He was at his attacking best, hitting 43 winners and winning 76% of his net points. On the return, he won an impressive 44% of all points and converted 6 out of 14 break-point opportunities.
Virtanen, meanwhile, was exceptional on serve in his opener, winning an astonishing 86% of points behind his first serve. He wasn’t afraid to go for his shots either, hitting 57 winners out of a total of 137 points won while conceding only 13 unforced errors.
Virtanen’s powerful all-court game could pose a challenge for the Australian, but De Minaur is heavily favored to come out on top due to his better form this season and superior record at the US Open. De Minaur has reached as far as the quarterfinals, while the Finn will be aiming to advance beyond the second round in just his second attempt.
Pick: De Minaur in four straight sets.
#1 Tommy Paul vs Max Purcell
Fourteenth seed and home favorite Tommy Paul started his US Open campaign with a gritty 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Winston-Salem champion Lorenzo Sonego. His net play was particularly impressive, as he won an outstanding 78% of points when coming forward. Paul’s measured attack throughout the match also saw him accumulate 39 winners and 8 aces.
In contrast, Max Purcell breezed through his opener against compatriot Aleksandar Vukic with a straight-sets win 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. He countered Vukic’s big serve effectively, winning 42% of return points and converting 4 out of 9 break point opportunities. Purcell’s net play was also a highlight, as he won 81% of those points. His 36 winners significantly outweighed his 16 unforced errors.
Paul enters this match as the firm favorite due to his superior hard court record and overall better performance on the singles circuit this year. Purcell, who was in great form in his opener, is also in uncharted territory as he is playing his first-ever second-round match in New York. His chances could dwindle very quickly if he doesn’t deliver a standout performance against the American, who will also have the advantage of home support.
