The third round of the US Open commences on Friday, which will see some of the big names in action.
In an exciting all-American matchup, Ben Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe, a rematch of their thrilling quarter-final encounter from the previous year.
Also in action will be men's defending champion Novak Djokovic against Alexei Popyrin and the reigning women's champion Coco Gauff facing Elina Svitolina.
SHELTON vs TIAFOE
The two previous encounters between the two saw Shelton coming through on top after fighting tough battles.
"These are the type of matches that I love, that I live for ...," Shelton said, as quoted by Reuters. "It will be a war just like the last two times we've played. I know that the people love him here. Probably more than me. He's electric here, and his crowds are electric here."
Tiafoe was of similar opinion and expected a touch challenge being presented by Shelton once again.
"He's young, funny, cracks jokes. Just about as immature as I am," Tiafoe joked. "He's got one of the better serves on the tour, no question. Especially a lefty, he hits all the spots, changes pace quite well. It's going to be tough but I'm super excited."
GAUFF vs SVITOLINA
In their first ever match in 2021, Svitolina emerged victorious against Gauff, winning in straight sets. However, their most recent match at the Auckland Open in January took a different turn. Despite losing the first set, the American showcased her resilience and determination, staging an impressive comeback to secure the victory.
As the defending champion, the 20-year-old acknowledged the importance of delivering her finest performance during Friday's match. Gauff understands that she will need to be at the top of her game to overcome the challenge posed by her opponent.
"I think she's a good all-court player. She can do pretty much everything. She's really solid from the back. When I played her in Auckland, we had a lot of physical points," Gauff said.
DJOKOVIC vs POPYRIN
Djokovic, fresh from winning Paris Olympics gold medal and eyeing his fifth US Open crown, hasn't won a Grand slam this year and would want to correct that despite not being at the top of his game, especially with his serve.
"I haven't really been serving well the first two matches here, so I'm still kind of trying to find that rhythm and tempo on the serve," the 37-year-old said ahead of his match against Popyrin.
Djokovic managed to secure a victory in his second-round match despite hitting a mere three aces. His opponent, Laslo Djere, showcased a more impressive serving performance, delivering 11 aces before ultimately retiring due to an injury.
As Djokovic prepares to face Popyrin in the next round, he acknowledges the 25-year-old's continuous growth and development as a player. Although the Serbian star holds a perfect 3-0 record against Popyrin, he remains cautious and respectful of his opponent's abilities.
"He keeps on getting closer and closer, knocking on that door," Djokovic said. "So he's much better defending, and he's more consistent. He doesn't make as many errors as he used to ... he's pumped. He's confident, and he shows that."
