US Open Day 6 Preview: Paes, Hingis and Bopanna in on the doubles action

Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Leander Paes and Martina Hingis will play tonightWe preview the doubles action from Flushing Meadows tonight as India’s Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes both play with their respective partners – Bopanna in the gentlemen’s doubles with partner Florin Mergea, and Paes with top women’s doubles seed Martina Hingis.

#1 Leonardo Mayer and Joao Sousa vs Fedrico Delbonis and Diego Schwartzman

Sousa and Mayer take on Delbonis and Schwartzman

Leonardo Mayer, who lost to Roger Federer in the first round of the men’s singles, and Joao Sousa who lost a thrilling 5 setter against Bernakis of Lithuania will take on the Argentinean pair of Fedrico Delbonis and Diego Schwartzman in the second round of the Men’s doubles.

The pair of Mayer and Sousa beat Jack Sock of America and Vasek Popsil of Canada in the first round. After being one set down, the Portuguese-Argentine pair made a comeback winning the next two sets 7-6, 7-5. Meanwhile the Argentine pair of Delbonis and Schwartzman also won a three setter against Martin Klizan and Lukas Rosol in their first round match up.

They have never faced each other before and this will be their first meeting. We can expect a few fireworks in this game as all four players are talented and can spring up a surprise.

Prediction: This will be a hard fought battle. Mayer and Sousa to come out on top.

#2 Marcin Matkowski and Nenad Zimonjic (4) vs Marco Cecchinato and Andreas Seppi

Matkowski and Zimonjic (at Indian Wells this year) play Cecchinato and Seppi

Matkowski and Zimonjic who play only in the doubles will face the Italian duo Cecchinato and Seppi in the second round. Matkowski paired with Lucie Hradecka lost to Matek- Sands and Sam Querry in the mixed doubles, Zimonjic on the other hand has advanced to the second round in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Paired with Julia Georges they beat the American pair of Duval and Harrison in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

Ceechinato and Seppi won a hard fought three setter against the New Zealand- Israeli pair of Sitak and Erlich 7-6, 3-6, 6-7.

These two pairs haven’t played each other before, but will be a cracker of a match as Matkowski and Zimonjic are seeded number four and Seppi and Cecchinato will look to pull off an upset in round two itself.

Prediction: Matkowski and Zimonjic to win in three sets.

#3 Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea (6) vs Santiago Gonzalez and Mariusz Frystenberg

Bopanna and Mergea, pictured at the Stuttgart Open, take on Gonzalez and Frystenber

Semi- finalists at this year’s Wimbledon Florin Mergea and Rohan Bopanna will face Gonzalez and Frystenberg the Polish-Mexican duo. Mergea and Bopanna beat Krajicek and Monroe of USA in their first round fixture. Seeded number six and their win against the Brian brothers in the Wimbledon will give them the much needed positivity to take their US Open journey forward.

Gonzalez and Mariusz had a hard time in the first round but will be hoping to put up a better performance in the next match. They will certainly have a hard against their sixth seeded opponents but if they bring out their best on court they can turn into giant killers.

Prediction: Mergea and Bopanna to win in two sets.

#4 Martina Hingis and Leander Paes (4) vs Eugenie Bouchard and Nick Kyrgios

Hingis and Paes play Kyrgios and Bouchard

Wimbledon Mixed doubles champions Paes and Hingis take on Kyrgios and Bouchard in their second round tie. The Indo-Swiss pair are battle hardened players and have a lot more experience than their younger opponents. Paes and Hingis beat the American pair of Lui and Fritz in the first round in straight sets. With the skill they posses it shouldn’t be too hard to brush aside their opponents today.

Bouchard and Kyrgios on the other hand beat Sitak and Svitolina in a three setter. Kyrgios lost to Murray in the first round of his singles fixture and Bouchard has entered the fourth round in the ladies singles.

Kyrgios, who has faced a lot of criticism for the way he played against Murray, will look to make amends in the doubles tie. It is highly unlikely though that the Kyrgios and Bouchard pair will be able to beat the Wimbledon Champions.

Prediction: Paes and Hingis to seal the match in two sets.

#5 Yung Jan Chan and Rohan Bopanna (2) vs Alla Kurdryavtseva and Alexandr Peya

Chan and Bopanna will face Peya and Kurdryavtseva

Ranked higher than Wimbledon champions Paes and Hingis, Chan and Bopanna will look to show why they deserve the second seed ranking in their second round match against Russian- Austrian pair Peya and Kurdryavtseva. They beat Verdasco and Bencic in the first round 6-4, 6-4. Bopanna will play two matches today men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Peya and his partner beat McHale and Kozlov of America in their first round.

The two have never faced each other so this will their first meeting and Chan and Bopanna should easily go through without much difficulty. Chan has already entered the third round in the women’s singles and Bopanna will be looking to do the same wit h Mergea today.

Prediction: Bopanna and Chan to win in a three setter.

#6 Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt vs Colin Fleming and Treat Huey

Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt play Colin Fleming and Treat Huey

The Aussie pair of Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt will take on Colin Fleming and Treat Huey of New Zealand and Philippines respectively. Hewitt playing in his last US Open has already crashed out of the singles losing to compatriot Tomic in the second round. This is his only chance to retire on a high so he along with his partner will look to give their best. Groth and Hewitt beat Kontinen and Zeballos in a three set match. They should look to easily beat Fleming and Huey who beat Bolelli and Fogini in their first round fixture.

Prediction: Groth and Hewitt to win in three sets.