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The action at the US Open 2024 will continue on Day 3 with the commencement of the second-round matches. The first two days featured a couple of blockbuster matches which pitted former Major champions against each other.
Naomi Osaka, who won half of her four Major trophies in New York, played one of her best matches this season to beat former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2. Sofia Kenin was the second winner of the battle between Major champions, earning a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win over Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open three years ago.
While no Major champions will go up against each other on Wednesday, there are still quite a few interesting matches set in store. Here's a look at three of the most compelling matches lined up on Day 3 of the US Open:
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#3 - Coco Gauff vs Tatjana Maria
Defending champion Gauff will face former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria in the second round. The two will contest the first match of the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Gauff commenced her title defense with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva. After leaving the Cincinnati Open without a win as the defending champion, this was a much-needed win for the young American.
Maria didn't have to work too hard for her win either as she beat qualifier Solana Sierra 6-2, 6-3. The German has never been past the second round in New York but can certainly be a thorn in her opponent's side with her particular brand of tennis.
Gauff won their previous encounter en route to the title in Auckland last year. Given how the two of them have played this year, the American will be favored to triumph once again, though the German can make it tricky for her.
#2 - Casper Ruud vs Gael Monfils
Ruud and Monfils will take to the court for their second-round duel in the day's final match on Grandstand. The Norwegian beat qualifier Bu Yunchaokete 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.
Monfils, meanwhile, rallied from a set down to defeat Diego Schwartzman 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 and end the latter's Grand Slam career. The Frenchman recently defeated World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the Cincinnati Open in three sets.
Ruud was the runner-up in New York a couple of years ago, while Monfils' best showing has been a semifinal appearance in 2016. The former has been under the weather in the lead-up to the US Open but has mostly performed quite well throughout the season.
Monfils has been a little inconsistent but still has the game to give younger players a run for their money. He remains one of the tour's most entertaining shotmakers. Aside from the French Open, Ruud has underperformed at the remaining Majors since the start of 2023.
Ruud could find himself in a spot of bother with Monfils on the other side of the net. Regardless of the final outcome, this match has the potential to be a memorable affair.
#1 - Taylor Fritz vs Matteo Berrettini
Berrettini's comeback this season has gone quite well, winning three titles from four finals, though all of his triumphs have been on clay. He's a former semifinalist at the US Open, reaching the last four back in 2019 and improved his record to 18-6 at the venue.
Berrettini secured a 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-3 win over Albert Ramos Vinolas in his opener here. Fritz, meanwhile, started his campaign with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli. The American was a quarterfinalist at last year's US Open, his best result here, and now has a 11-8 record. The two are scheduled to play the last match of the day at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Both are former top-10 players, with Fritz still hovering around the region, while Berrettini is trying to make his way back there after a series of injuries. With big serves and even bigger forehands, the two are known to smack the ball with no mercy.
Fritz has a perfect winning record in this rivalry, and has beaten Berrettini thrice thus far. All of their matches have been on hardcourts, with the American winning their most recent duel at last year's United Cup in two close sets.
The US Open ranks as Berrettini's best Major, and despite his losing record against Fritz, he could make this a competitive battle. The two have contested some incredible matches before, and this one could go down to the wire as well.
