The US Open's Round of 128 begins in New York, with 128 players stepping onto the hard courts to open their Grand Slam campaigns. Wednesday's slate features a seeded contender, a ranked veteran, and a pair of opponents with something to prove.
Andrea Guerrieri vs. Alex De Minaur - Round of 128
Scheduled for approximately 4:00 PM EDT.
This Round of 128 encounter is the first-ever meeting between Andrea Guerrieri and sixth-ranked Alex De Minaur, with no head-to-head history and no prior results to draw upon. Guerrieri enters without a current ATP ranking listed in the data, which underscores a significant standing gap between the two players. De Minaur arrives as the number six seed, a position that reflects deep establishment in the upper tier of the tour. With no odds available and no previous meetings on record, the ranking differential is the clearest indicator of what to expect. De Minaur's seeding implies he is a heavy favorite to advance, and Guerrieri will need an exceptional performance to trouble the Australian on a hard-court Grand Slam stage.
Prediction: De Minaur in straight or four sets.
Rafael Jodar vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis - Round of 128
Ranked 23rd, Rafael Jodar enters this Round of 128 clash as a clear favorite on paper against Thanasi Kokkinakis, who is currently ranked 492nd. The two have never met before, leaving no head-to-head record or recent results to consult. The ranking gap of nearly 470 places is substantial, and at a Grand Slam on hard courts, Jodar's position in the top 25 carries meaningful weight. No odds are available to further calibrate expectations, but the gap in rankings alone makes Jodar the logical choice to advance. Kokkinakis will need to produce a strong performance to overcome that disparity.
Prediction: Jodar in three or four sets.
