Diego Schwartzman vs. Alexei Popyrin Predictions: Schwarztman Ready to Up His Game in Round 2

On Thursday, September 1, No. 14 seed Diego Schwartzman will face Alexei Popyrin in the second round of the 2022 US Open.

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Diego Schwartzman

After a strong start to the competition, Jack Sock began to struggle with a back ailment and finally quit from the first round, allowing Diego Schwartzman to advance to the second round.

Both players gave it their best in the first two sets, but Sock came out on top in both, leading the 14th seed by two sets to nought. In the third set, the former World No. 8 began to have back pain, was unable to walk or strike the ball with strength, and finally left after getting bageled.

Despite trailing 3-6, 5-7, 6-0, 1-0, the World No. 16 advanced to the second round. In the following round, he'll have his job cut out for him against another guy who is athletic and can hit the ball hard.

The 30-year-old Argentine is in the second round for the sixth time in his ninth appearance at the US Open. He has two quarterfinal appearances here and made it to the Round of 16 last year. He was fortunate in the first round, but he hopes to improve in the second.

Alexei Popyrin

Alexei Popyrin won his first round match in straight sets, but it was far from easy; the Australian took two hours and 42 minutes to defeat Taipei's Chun-Hsin Tseng.

The 6'5′′ Australian hit 15 aces and 46 wins to defeat World No. 89 Tseng 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6. (7-3). Popyrin, the world No. 84, gained the lone break of the opening set but was met with stiff resistance by Tseng, who is rated five places lower.

Both players swapped breaks in the second set and two breaks in the third, but Popyrin edged past the Taipei player in back-to-back tiebreaks to secure the match and make it 3-0 in the first round of the US Open. He has advanced to the third round in both of his previous two appearances and will attempt to do so again on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Popyrin has struggled at the highest level this year, with a 4-14 tour-level record entering the competition. He did have some success at a lower level, though, winning a Challenger championship and reaching two semifinals.

Expert Betting Tips

Schwartzman will have the upper hand in this match and should win in three or four sets.

• Total Under 36.5 for 1.8
• Handiсap Diego Schwartzman (-5.5) for 1.81
• Individual Total 2 Under 17 for 1.82