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The second round of the US Open will begin on Day 3 after the first round of the competition was completed on Day 2. All the top seeds including the likes of Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray and 2014 US Open winner Cilic are still in the race to win the Grand Slam, while 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori succumbed to a defeat on the opening day.
Some of the important results from Day 2 were Roger Federer’s win over Argentinian Leonardo Mayer, Andy Murray’s four-set victory over the foul-mouthed Nick Kyrgios, and Stanislas Wawrinka’s straight-set settlement against Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Let’s have a look at some of the matches that will take place on Day 3 of the US Open:
Novak Djokovic (1) vs Andreas Haider-Maurer
The reigning World number 1 will continue his quest of winning his third grand-slam of 2015 and a first US Open since 2011, having already picked up the Australian Open and the Wimbledon so far. He was at his consistent best in the first round clash against Souza, losing just three games to comprehensively wrap up the match in three sets 6-1 6-1 6-1.
Novak’s opponent in the second round of the US Open is Andreas Haider-Maurer, who he thrashed 6-4, 6-0 on clay in the 2015 Monte Carlo. The 28-year-old Austrian needed five sets to get past Vasek Pospisil as the two played out an intense affair that ended 6-4 3-6 6-7(0) 6-0 6-1.
Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in straight sets.
Rafael Nadal (8) vs Diego Schwartzman
World Number 8 Rafael Nadal will take on Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the Round of 64, after struggling past Borna Coric in the first round of the US Open. The Spaniard needed four sets to down the Croat while his upcoming opponent Diego brushed past Elias Ymer in straight sets in his first round match.
The previous meeting between the two took place in 2013 in Acapulco, with Nadal breezing to a 6-2 6-2 win in the Round of 32. Despite being the overwhelming favourite in this match-up, Nadal will need to be on-guard to progress through to the next round as he tries to build up some more confidence.
Prediction: Expect a couple of rough games in the match from the Spanish lefty, although he should win this comfortably.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Marcel Granollers
Tsonga and Marcel Granollers both kicked off their US Open campaign with simple straight-set wins, dispatching Jarkko Nieminen and Lacko respectively whilst not dropping many games.
The two players have already met on three different occasions, with two of those coming on hard court surfaces. 30-year-old Tsonga was the victor on both occasions in 2008 and 2012, although the most recent match between the two on a clay surface in Barcelona ended in a thrashing by the Spanish world number 77 Granollers.
Prediction: The Frenchman’s 2-0 head to head record on hard courts with Granollers should work to his advantage although this could be a close contest if the Spaniard shows up.
David Ferrer (7) vs Filip Krajinovic
The hugely experienced David Ferrer was given a tricky time in his first round match against Radu Albot, before convincingly completing a victory in four sets. The 33-year-old will face Serbian Filip Krajinovic, who beat Alejandro Gonzalez 6-4 6-0 6-4.
A 6-0 6-3 clay-court win for Ferrer back in 2012 is the only match-up between the two, so it should be interesting to see how their first match on the US Open hard court surface goes.
Prediction: The world number 7 will win but probably not in straight sets.
Marin Cilic (9) vs Evgeny Donskoy
130 places separate Cilic and Donskoy in the ATP rankings, and the only meeting between the two was a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win for the former in the hardcourts of Moscow last year.
Prediction: The 26-year-old Croat to beat his opposition in straight sets.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
