US Open Tennis 2017, Aug 21-Sept. 10

[PKBasu]

The qualifying draw is due out today. Does anyone know the timing of its release?

[IndianTennisFan]

Around 5 PM US Central Time

[fabshab]

I guess 6 pm to be more precise

[PKBasu]

6pm Eastern Standard Time (5pm Central), the same thing.

[fabshab]

6pm Eastern Standard Time (5pm Central), the same thing.

Yea...the time zones

[Prashant]

Prajnesh plays #133 Yannick Hanfmann.

RamK plays former world #12 Paul-Henri Mathieu (currently only ranked 213), and would probably play Nicolas Mahut in R2.

Yuki is handed a tough opener against #131 Go Soeda.

[PKBasu]

Yuki plays Go Soeda in Q1. Ramkumar plays 35 year old Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA, 213).

[PKBasu]

Here are all the relevant brackets:

S. Stakhovsky (UKR) vs. [4]A. Vatutin (RUS)
H. Moriya (JPN) vs. F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
V. Safranek (CZE) vs. D. Masur (GER)
P. Gunneswaran (IND) vs Y. Hanfmann (GER, 133) [24]

N. Mahut (FRA) [14] vs. S. Kwon (KOR)
R. Ramanathan (IND) vs. P. Mathieu (FRA, 213)
D. Wu (CHN) vs. S. Tsitsipas (GRE)
M. Arevalo (ESA) vs. M. Berrettini (ITA) [28]

A. Bublik (KAZ) [7] vs. C. Norrie (GBR)
T. Gabashvili (RUS) vs. S. Bangoura (USA)
M. Chiudinelli (SUI) vs. B. Mott (AUS)
Y. Bhambri (IND) vs. G. Soeda (JPN, 131) [22]

[bujilover]

I'd probably worry about Yuki facing Sasha Bublik but of course one at a time

[PKBasu]

Yuki has a 1-1 career record against Go Soeda, having lost to him in straights at Yokohama in 2014, but having turned the tables in a 3-setter in Taipei in 2015. Gabashvili is the danger man for him: Yuki has lost in easy straights to him both times they have played, although Gabashvili is 32 years old now and ranked only 212.

[Varma]

Of all the three, Yuki has the best chance to cross the initial hurdle. If they all manage to win their respective Q1 matches, Yuki and Prajnesh will have relatively easier Q2 opponents. But overall, they all have to tread a very tough path to qualify. This is a grand-slam, after all.

- Varma

[arjun2761]

Yuki has a 1-1 career record against Go Soeda, having lost to him in straights at Yokohama in 2014, but having turned the tables in a 3-setter in Taipei in 2015. Gabashvili is the danger man for him: Yuki has lost in easy straights to him both times they have played, although Gabashvili is 32 years old now and ranked only 212.

I wouldn't worry too much about Gabashvili. - he isn't the player he was. Watches him recently in the WTT finals at the La Costa and he could barely handle Rajeev Ram although he may have won 5-4 due to the unforced errors by Rajeev. Couple of good juniors in their sections -- Tsitpitas and Auger- alliassime. Wouldnt be surprised if they pull off upsets.

[PKBasu]

Qualifying into a Slam is really like making the final of a high-quality Challenger. Every match is likely to be close and hard-fought. There is far more at stake money-wise than in a Challenger.

I think RamK has a good opportunity, as his first two opponents are ageing Frenchmen (both 35 years old!), who will hopefully struggle against his vigorous style. Yuki will have to fight hard against the doughty Soeda; if he wins Q1, the next match should be easier, and Q3 will naturally be another hard fight.

[Rajiv]

Predicatble draws with none of them being a gimme , and what one can expect in Slam qualies.

Yuki , plays a counter puncher in Go Soeda and if he gets into rallying affair than the Japanese has a chance to outlast him as he will simply stay at the baseline retrive all his shots using heavy topspin
So the key here will be to play short points , attacking tennis just in the manner he played against Ram at Chennai and Stakhosky and this should be his strategy

Ram if he gets past Mathieu than his chances of MD are very bright , Mathieu at 156K has earned much more than Ram & Yuki for this year indicating he is a very busy player having committed himself for all the tournament play from first day of the year, whereas Mahut has much less singles play and less favourable results compared to Mathieu and primarily a double player now , So for Ram Mathieu is the danger man and must win match.

Pragnesh more than anyone , he himself doesn't seem to have any hope as immediately after the qualies he has signed for the Equador Challenger in Quito where he has made the main draw.

[PKBasu]

Prajnesh plays the first match (11am local, 8:30pm IST) on Court 14 today.
Yuki plays the last match on Court 10 (probably around 4pm local, ie, around 1:30am IST Wednesday).
Ramkumar plays the first match tomorrow (11am local, Wednesday).