Andy Roddick went through the US Open men’s draw alongside journalist
John Wertheim and attempted to predict all the matches of the tournament. The
former world No. 1 was bold in choosing his favorites throughout the rounds,
including an early exit for Jannik Sinner and a possible final between Carlos
Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
FIRST QUARTER
In the
first quarter, Jannik Sinner should have no trouble advancing to the
quarterfinals, with victories along the way over Nicolas Jarry (26th) and Tommy
Paul (14th). Daniil Medvedev would advance without issue to the quarterfinals,
defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime (19th) in the fourth round.
Roddick
expects the Canadian to upset 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas early on, but it
wouldn't be enough against Medvedev’s experience. "I think he's just too
good, and I think when someone is that good and that consistent, three out of
five sets works in their favor. I'm not worried about him figuring out a way to
get through a couple of matches, and then I think it's normal for him,"
Roddick said about Medvedev.
SECOND QUARTER
In the
second quarter, the leader is Carlos Alcaraz (third seed), from whom Roddick
doesn’t expect any early shocks. However, they did note that Jack Draper would
be a tough opponent in the third round, as the Brit beat him this summer.
Still, Roddick believes the Spaniard has what it takes to advance through the
early rounds without much trouble.
"I think there are a lot of guys that
Carlos Alcaraz would much rather play on a fast surface," Roddick said
regarding a possible matchup against Draper. "But I'm not going to bet
against Carlos Alcaraz in a best of five sets in this matchup, so I had the
chuckster through to the fourth round."
A
fourth-round match against Sebastian Korda would again be a tough challenge for
the Spaniard, according to Roddick and Wertheim, but they once again chose the
4-time Grand Slam champion. On the other side of the quarter, Hubert Hurkacz is
Roddick’s favorite to overcome Alex De Minaur in the fourth round and secure a
quarterfinal spot against Alcaraz.
THIRD QUARTER
This time,
the former world No. 1 surprised by choosing a ‘dark horse,’ or at least an
unseeded player, as Matteo Berrettini could challenge the rankings, defeating
three seeded players on his way to the quarters.
Roddick
predicted wins for the Italian against Taylor Fritz (No. 12), Ugo Humbert
(17th), and Casper Ruud (4th) before securing his place in the quarterfinals.
"It's so weird because we never give Ruud enough credit ever, and then all
of a sudden, he makes deep runs in slams like all the time," Roddick said.
"I’m going with Berrettini in the quarters," he concluded.
Berrettini's
opponent could be 4th seed Alexander Zverev, who should advance without much
trouble through the quarters, facing his biggest challenge against 15th seed
Rune, although Roddick sees him as Berrettini's potential quarterfinal
opponent.
FOURTH QUARTER
Grigor
Dimitrov would emerge victorious in a potential matchup against Andrey Rublev
and face Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. The defending champion shouldn't
have any problems in the first four rounds, despite Alexei Popyrin (28th) and
Frances Tiafoe (20th) looming along the way.
On the
other hand, John Wertheim expects a shock from Jiri Lehecka (32nd), who would
defeat Rublev and Dimitrov to become Djokovic’s quarterfinal opponent. Still,
they saw a straightforward path for Nole to the semifinals.
LAST 8
Thus,
Roddick's quarterfinals would see Daniil Medvedev as the winner of the
quarterfinal match against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. However, his journey
would end there, as he would stumble against Carlos Alcaraz, whom Roddick
expects to defeat Alex De Minaur in the quarters.
On the
other side, Roddick chose Novak Djokovic to reach the final, defeating Dimitrov
and Zverev along the way. The Serbian will continue his fantastic run and claim
his 25th Grand Slam title by beating Alcaraz in the final.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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