US Open 2020: Alex de Minaur vs Andrej Martin preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: Alex De Minaur vs Andrej Martin
Date: 1 September 2020
Tournament: US Open 2020
Round: First round (Round of 128)
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York, USA
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $39,024,000
Match timing: 5 PM EDT, 4:30 AM IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel / ESPN | India - Star Sports / Hotstar
Alex de Minaur vs Andrej Martin preview
21st-seed Alex de Minaur opens his campaign at the 2020 US Open against Slovakia's Andrej Martin.
The Australian started his season at the inaugural ATP Cup where he won two matches before losing the next two. He followed that up by making a first-round exit in Acapulco, before the COVID-19 outbreak forced a suspension of the tour.
On his return to competitive action at the Cincinnati Masters last week, the World No. 28 lost to eventual quarterfinalist Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets in the first round.
Andrej Martin, meanwhile, kicked off his season by making successive semifinals - at the Punte del Este Challenger in Uruguay and the ATP 250 Cordoba Open. He then fell in the opening round at Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago.
Martin will make his first appearance at the US Open since a first-round exit in 2013. He is yet to win a Grand Slam match outside Roland Garros (two wins in 2016).
Alex de Minaur vs Andrej Martin head-to-head
Alex de Minaur and Andrej Martin have never met in a competitive match before, so their head-to-head rivalry currently stands at 0-0.
Alex de Minaur vs Andrej Martin prediction
Alex de Minaur recorded three of his five match wins at the US Open last year, as he made his way to the fourth round (lost to Grigor Dimitrov).
The 21-year-old Australian has shown steady improvement in his performances at Flushing Meadows over the years. De Minaur lost in the first round on his US Open debut in 2017, and made the second round a year later.
Despite being nine years younger than his first-round opponent Andrej Martin, De Minaur has won 10 more matches in Majors compared to the Slovakian's tally of two.
Alex de Minaur's superior experience and big-match pedigree should in all likelihood see him through to the next round. The Aussie would be looking to reach another second week at a Grand Slam and venture beyond the fourth round for the first time.
Prediction: Alex de Minaur to win in straight sets.