US Open Day Three features three high-profile clashes that could set the tone for the fortnight: Stefanos Tsitsipas facing Alexandre Muller, Coco Gauff taking on Ajla Tomljanovic, and Alexander Bublik meeting Marin Cilic.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alexandre Muller
Tsitsipas, seeded 26th, will look to rebuild his confidence on a night session on New York’s hard courts. It’s been a tough spell for the Greek, with back-to-back disappointments making his early-round work crucial as he aims for a fresh start in the Open. The task is not made easier by the opponent, Muller, a big-serve Frenchman who has started the year in strong form and reached as high as 38 in the world before slipping a touch in the spring. Muller’s serve-and-approach game will test Tsitsipas’s aggressive baseline play, while the Greek will try to use angles and smart transition play to gain control.
Head-to-head shows Tsitsipas ahead 2-0 in this matchup, adding a layer of psychological edge as they prepare for a potentially tight and nervy opening clash in Queens. A significant talking point around Tsitsipas has been his coaching setup, with comments circulating about hopes of returning to his father’s guidance as part of a broader identity search. Expect a tense but hopeful start for Tsitsipas, who is aiming to seize the big moments when it matters most. Prediction among observers leans toward Tsitsipas in four sets.
Coco Gauff vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Gauff, the third seed, arrives in New York looking to re-establish the momentum after a breakthrough season that included a Roland Garros title but a bumpier run of form since. A coaching change has accompanied efforts to stabilize her serve and improve consistency, with adjustments aimed at helping her maintain pressure and reduce unforced errors. Tomljanovic, who has a memorable US Open pedigree—she’s been part of moments that shaped the tournament’s history—will search for a signature result to remind the field of her ability to rise to the occasion.
In their head-to-head, Gauff leads 1-0, and she will likely rely on her aggressive forehand to pin Tomljanovic behind the baseline while Tomljanovic looks to step in, mix up the rhythm, and upset the rhythm with smart aggression. The storyline is less about age and more about the fresh phase in Gauff’s development as she seeks to rediscover the form that helped her win a major two years ago. Expect Gauff to take control in the big points and push through a three-set victory as she finds her footing again under the lights.
Alexander Bublik vs Marin Cilic
Bublik, seeded 23rd, has enjoyed a resurgent stretch recently, with a run of results that included strong showings on clay and grass, and a broader sense that he’s found new ways to impose his variety on big matches. He’ll need that same creativity against a seasoned veteran in Cilic, who has been enjoying a late-career renaissance of sorts, climbing back into the top 100 with aggressive serving and bold, all-court play.
The head-to-head currently favors Cilic 3-0 in US Open meetings, and the Croatian’s experience will be a major hurdle for Bublik’s ambitious game. Bublik’s plan will revolve around using his variety to pull Cilic off the baseline and then attack the backhand with pace. Cilic, for his part, will lean on his forehand and heightened pressure on serve to dictate play on each set. This is shaping up as a clash between a fearless, creative shot-maker and a power-based, steady baseliner, with Bublik viewed as the likely challenger to upset the odds in a tight three-set battle.
What to watch
– Court assignments and start times set the stage for a dramatic night of tennis in New York. Each match presents a different test: Tsitsipas seeks to reassert himself; Gauff looks to stabilize after a fluctuating run; Bublik aims to translate momentum into a deep run against a proven major performer.
– The day’s outcomes could influence seeds and momentum as the tournament progresses, particularly if any of these favorites hit a rough patch early.
Summary
Three marquee matchups on day three illustrate the depth and drama of this year’s US Open. Tsitsipas is chasing a confidence boost against Muller, Gauff aims to steady her game after a high-profile season, and Bublik seeks to convert his late-season form into a deep run against Cilic. All eyes will be on how each player handles pressure points and adapts their game on the big stage.
Potential added value
– For readers following form trends, note Tsitsipas’s coaching situation and recent flat stretches as potential turning points; Muller’s serve-and-attack approach could create early momentum if Tsitsipas is not dialed in from the start.
– Gauff’s adaptation under a new coaching perspective will be interesting to monitor, especially in terms of serve consistency and first-serve percentage under pressure.
– Bublik’s tactical breadth vs Cilic’s power will be a compelling chess match; look for how Bublik handles return games and whether Cilic can sustain baseline rhythm under the Kazakh’s variety.
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