Second round singles action is scheduled to be completed on Thursday.
Day 4’s schedule features two blockbuster second round matches in the ATP draw. 2012 champion Andy Murray faces friend and frequent opponent of yesteryear Grigor Dimitrov for the first time since 2016. And 2016 semifinalist Gael Monfils challenges eighth-seeded Andrey Rublev. Plus, US Open champs Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Stan Wawrinka also play on Thursday.
On the WTA side, 2020 Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin battles the 13th seed, Daria Kasatkina. In addition, three-time Major runner-up Ons Jabeur, who was clearly hampered by illness on Tuesday, takes on a dangerous 18-year-old in Linda Noskova. And reigning Major champs Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova will also be in action.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s four most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Thursday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Andy Murray vs. Grigor Dimitrov (19) – 12:00pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium
These veterans met 11 times between 2011 and 2016, with Murray gaining the decided edge 8-3. Dimitrov’s most significant victory came in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2014, when he prevailed in straight sets. Their only encounter at this event occurred seven years ago, when Andy was easily victorious, dropping only five games. What will this matchup look like in 2023, with Andy now the bionic man?
Murray won a tight three-setter on Tuesday over Corentin Moutet, while Dimitrov endured a much more grueling contest. Grigor saved three match points before eventually winning a fifth-set tiebreak over Alex Molcan. The Bulgarian was a semifinalist here in 2019, but has lost in this round in each of the last three years.
With Murray possessing a significant lead in their head-to-head, and certainly being the fresher player after the first round, I like Andy’s chances of advancing to the third round of the US Open for the second consecutive year, metal hip notwithstanding.
Gael Monfils vs. Andrey Rublev (8) – Third on Grandstand
Rublev was originally drawn to face Emil Ruusuvuori in the opening round, a player who defeated him just two weeks ago in Cincinnati. But Emil was forced to withdraw due to illness, leading to Andrey winning in straight sets over a lucky loser. Considering Rublev arrived in New York on a three-match winning streak, he certainly didn’t mind facing an easier opponent.
Monfils has been resurgent this summer. After injuries yet again derailed his career since last August, he rediscovered his mojo in Toronto, where he upset Christopher Eubanks and Stefanos Tsistsipas. And after picking up two more solid wins in Cincy, over Cam Norrie and Alex de Minaur, Gael overcame Taro Daniel on Tuesday in a high-quality four-setter.
They have split two previous matchups, both on hard courts. Five years ago in the final of Doha, Monfils won in straights. Two years ago in Cincy, Rublev won in two tiebreak sets. In the rubber match on Thursday, I favor Gael. The Frenchman is in much stronger form this month, with Andrey currently lacking in confidence.
Ons Jabeur (5) vs. Linda Noskova – Last on Grandstand
What condition will Jabeur be in on Thursday? The answer to that question will likely be the biggest factor in this match’s outcome. Ons was doubled over frequently during her first round contest on Tuesday, struggling to catch her breath, as she has been battling an illness since the week before the Open.
Noskova is a fast-rising teenager who is having a good summer. She achieved her first WTA final at her home country’s biggest event in Prague, then came through qualifying to eventually upset Petra Kvitova and Liudmila Samsonova in Cinncinnati. Linda dropped only three games in her opening round against Madison Brengle of the United States.
This is a rematch from the beginning of this season in Adelaide, where Noskova upset Jabeur in three sets. And if Ons is still ailing on Thursday, a repeat of that result is entirely possible.
Daria Kasatkina (13) vs. Sofia Kenin – 7:00pm on Louis Armstrong Stadium
It’s been nearly four years since Kenin surprisingly won the Australian Open, then reached another Major final later that year in Paris. And they’ve been a long four years for Sofia, who has battled illnesses and injuries, which have kept her off the court for extended periods of time. Kenin is just 15-13 this season, but she has procured a few impressive wins in recent months, over the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
Kasatkina is 30-20 on the year, though she’s only 12-11 on hard courts. This remains her weakest surface, as she’s only once reached the second week of a hard court Major. Daria came back from a set down in the last round to defeat another American, Alycia Parks.
While Kenin is 2-1 against Kasatkina, those victories came four and five years ago, respectively. Most recently, Daria beat Sofia 6-4, 6-0, which was last year in Sydney on a hard court. And based on recent form, I give Kasatkina the slight edge to win again on Thursday night, in what should be a tight and compelling affair.
Other Notable Matches on Thursday:
Jack Draper vs. Hubert Hurkacz (17) – Marc-Andrea Huesler served for the match in the third set on Tuesday against Hurkacz, before Hubi came back to win in five. 21-year-old Draper missed most of the summer due to a shoulder injury, but is vying to reach the third round here for the second straight year. Hubi is 2-0 against Jack.
Jodie Burrage vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Sabalenka is now 25-5 on hard courts this year. Burrage was the runner-up in Birmingham on grass a few months ago, but on Tuesday earned just her second tour-level hard court victory of the season.
Martina Trevisan vs. Marketa Vondrousova (9) – Vondrousova lost only three games in the first round, while Trevisan survived a dramatic final-set tiebreak against Yulia Putintseva. This is the first career meeting between these two lefties.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry (30) vs. Stan Wawrinka – As per the ATP, with his victory on Tuesday over Yoshihito Nishioka, Wawrinka became the oldest man to win a match at the US Open since Jimmy Connors in 1992. On the same day, Etcheverry survived a fifth-set tiebreak to advance.
Elina Svitolina (26) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Svitolina is now 10-2 at Majors this year. Pavlyuchenkova continues to battle injuries, and has only played two tour-level matches since reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinals three months ago. Anastasia leads their head-to-head 3-2.
Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs. Lloyd Harris – Alcaraz only had to play a set and a half in his opening round, as Dominik Koepfer retired after rolling his ankle early in the match. Harris was a quarterfinalist here two years ago, but is currently ranked 177th in the world, as he missed most of 2022 due to injury.
Daniil Medvedev (3) vs. Christopher O’Connell – Medvedev dropped just two games in his opening round, while O’Connell notched an impressive four-set win over an in-form Max Purcell. Daniil has twice beaten Chris on a hard court, though their match earlier this season in Doha went to 7-5 in the third.
Patricia Maria Tig vs. Jessica Pegula (3) – Pegula comfortably eliminated Camila Giorgi on Tuesday afternoon, while Tig secured her first tour-level victory since June of 2021, after recently being inactive for over a year-and-a-half.
Thursday’s full Order of Play is here.
