The Round of 128 is here at the US Open in New York, and the hard-court Grand Slam kicks off with a loaded slate featuring five matches involving some of the tour's biggest names. Seeded heavyweights face a mix of dangerous opponents and uncharted matchups as the fortnight begins.
Roman Safiullin vs. Carlos Alcaraz - Round of 128
Scheduled for approximately 4:00 PM EDT.
This Round of 128 opener carries genuine intrigue thanks to a perfectly split head-to-head record: one win apiece. Safiullin (ranked 135) scored the more recent of those victories, beating Alcaraz 6-3, 6-4 in the Round 2 of the Rolex Paris Masters in Paris, a convincing straight-sets result. Before that, Alcaraz answered with a 6-4, 6-2 win of his own in Round 3 of the Olympics in Paris. The ranking gap between world No. 2 Alcaraz and No. 135 Safiullin is enormous, and Alcaraz is universally regarded as one of the sport's elite players at this level, but Safiullin has demonstrated he can dismantle the Spaniard in straight sets when conditions align. No odds are available to further frame expectations.
Prediction: Alcaraz advances, though Safiullin's proven ability to win this matchup makes it a match to watch closely.
Felix Auger Aliassime vs. Rinky Hijikata - Round of 128
Scheduled for approximately 7:00 PM EDT.
This Round of 128 encounter is a first-ever meeting between the two players. Auger Aliassime enters ranked fourth in the world, while Hijikata sits at No. 106, a ranking gap that clearly favors the Canadian. With no prior matches and no odds available, the data is thin. The 65-spot difference in the rankings is the primary signal here, pointing toward Auger Aliassime as the clear favorite to advance.
Prediction: Felix Auger Aliassime advances.
Alexander Zverev vs. Lorenzo Sonego - Round of 128
Zverev's dominance over Sonego is about as one-sided as head-to-heads get. The world No. 3 holds a perfect 6-0 record against the Italian, ranked 66th, and the recent results make that dominance look anything but fluent or lucky. Zverev's five most recent wins include victories at Monte-Carlo (6-3, 6-3), Dubai (7-5, 6-4), the United Cup in Australia (6-7, 6-3, 6-4), and two separate Halle victories. The only match that went three sets was still claimed by Zverev. Across all formats and surfaces, Sonego has yet to find an answer. No odds are provided, but the historical record speaks loudly enough. This Round of 128 match carries little suspense based on available data.
Prediction: Alexander Zverev advances.
Ben Shelton vs. Tallon Griekspoor - Round of 128
Like the Auger Aliassime-Hijikata match, this Round of 128 clash is a first-time meeting between the two players. Shelton enters as world No. 5, while Griekspoor is ranked 41st, a gap of 36 spots that favors the American. With no prior meetings, no recent head-to-head results, and no odds to reference, the ranking differential is the sole data point available. That difference suggests Shelton is the expected winner.
Prediction: Ben Shelton advances.
Andrea Guerrieri vs. Alex De Minaur - Round of 128
Another first-time meeting opens De Minaur's Round of 128 campaign. De Minaur comes in ranked sixth in the world, while Guerrieri carries no ranking in the provided data, suggesting a significant gulf in tour standing. With no prior meetings, no recent results, and no odds available, the data is minimal. The ranking context alone points heavily toward De Minaur.
Prediction: Alex De Minaur advances.
