Monday’s schedule is jam-packed, featuring almost every player still alive in the singles draws.
23-time Major singles champion Serena Willaims headlines Day 3 alongside a man who has 17 Majors, Novak Djokovic. But what condition will Novak be in, and will be even play? He pulled out of the doubles draw yesterday due to neck pain.
Serena and Djokovic will be joined on Monday by other top names such as Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, and Dominic Thiem. Also, both defending singles champions, Daniil Medvedev and Madison Keys, will be in action. With thunderstorms possible in the afternoon, let’s hope all second round matches can be completed by day’s end.
Sascha Zverev (5) vs. Andy Murray (WC)
Here we have a blockbuster second round affair between a three-time Major winner and a three-time Masters 1,000 champion. This will be the second time they’ve played, with the first taking place almost five years in Australia. Murray prevailed easily on that day against a young and inexperienced Zverev. But Zverev is the much-higher ranked player today, as Murray has missed much of the last several seasons, and almost retired from the sport. Andy picked up his first win of the year on Saturday, as he outlasted Frances Tiafoe in three sets. Prior to the tennis shutdown, Zverev started the year going 0-3 at the ATP Cup, as he suffered from some serious serving woes. However, Sascha recovered quickly in Melbourne, reaching his first Major semifinal. Murray will be eager to prove he can still compete at the highest level of the game. And it’s worth noting Zverev has surprisingly never won a match at this event, with an 0-5 record. But considering this is a much different event this year, and considering Murray has played one match since November due to injury, Sascha should come through what I expect to be a tight match.
Madison Keys (7) vs. Ons Jabeur
This will be the first career meeting between the defending champion and one of 2020’s winningest players. Jabeur has an 18-6 record on the year (including qualifying rounds). The 25-year-old from Tunisia has already reached three quarterfinals in this abbreviated season, including the Australian Open as well as just two weeks ago in Lexington. This will be Keys’ first match since January. While Madison was knocked out of the Australian in the third round, she reached the final two weeks prior in Brisbane. Keys is looking to defend a title for the first time in her career, though she faces an early challenge today considering the variety in Jabeur’s game. But Madison should like how quickly the courts in Queens are playing, which are highly conducive to her one-two punch style. This one could easily go three sets, though Keys is a slight favorite on these fast courts.
Other Notable Matches on Day 3:
Serena Williams (3) vs. Arantxa Rus (Q), a 29-year-old from the Netherlands. Serena claimed their only previous meeting, two years ago at Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Ricardas Berankis (Q), assuming Djokovic doesn’t withdraw as he did from the doubles draw yesterday.
Two-time Major winner Naomi Osaka (4) vs. Karolina Muchova, who can be a tricky opponent and loves to use slices and lobs. Muchova reached the quarters of Wimbledon last year, and won a hard court title in Seoul.
Defending champion Daniil Medvedev (3) vs. Marcos Giron (Q), a 27-year-old American ranked outside the top 100.
Petra Kvitova (6) vs. Marie Bouzkova, who reached the final in Monterrey earlier this year, and the quarters in Lexington two weeks ago.
Dominic Thiem (2) vs. Filip Krajinovic. The 28-year-old Serbian accumulated nine match wins earlier this year, including an upset over a red-hot Andrey Rublev.
