Frances Tiafoe isn’t looking to miss his mark this season. After falling short of his dream run in the US Open‘s last year’s edition, wherein he reached the third round, the American pro, will aim to replicate similar results at the very least. But, seeing it’s the Flushing Meadows Slam, the challenges are rarely predictable. The daunting task for the home favorite? Big Foe’ is to lock horns with Alexander Shevchenko in the event’s second round on Wednesday, August 28, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. What are the odds of him making it to the QFs this time around? Let’s analyze!

Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Shevchenko: Preview

Tiafoe commenced his US Open campaign against Aleksandar Kovačević. While maintaining his momentum was crucial, a single break in serve did the trick for the American. The No. 20 seed clinched the first two sets with ease, but Kovacevic’s valiant comeback forced Tiafoe to conjure a compelling performance in the fourth set. Despite the nerving pressure, the home favorite prevailed, thrashing his countryman with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Shevchenko made a commanding statement while kicking off his New York run. The Kazakhstani faced Dominik Koepfer, wherein he started strong, clinching the first two sets. But the German pro mounted a formidable defense, forcing Shevchenko to prolong their battle. However, the young talent’s noteworthy performance proved decisive, assisting him to conclude the duel 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.

Tiafoe vs Shevchenko: Head-to-Head

The two players have never crossed paths on the ATP Tour. Despite extensively competing on the circuit and showcasing their performances at every major tournament, they have never battled on-court. As a result, their head-to-head is locked at 0-0.

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Prediction: ‘Big Foe’ to win in straight sets

The American talent entered New York with a decent 24-19 match record for the year. After enduring a troubling first half of the season, Tiafoe regained his form during the American hard court swing. He reached the last four of the Citi Open and later bounced back from a disappointing opening round loss in Montreal by finishing runner-up at the Cincinnati Masters.

Possessing lethal weapons in his arsenal, the World No. 20 boasts an aggressive baseline game, coupled with his expertise in slamming flat winners. However, the American’s serve has taken a hit. Notably, his Flushing Meadows R1 contest clinched merely 58% of wins from his first serve, and 80% in the second. Meanwhile, ‘Big Foe’ registered a jaw-dropping 56 winners to his name during his showdown.

Shevchenko, on the other hand, is in a critical phase of his career. Having struggled to validate results that can result in his breakthrough, the 23-year-old has had a challenging year. With a 16-29 win-loss match record, the Kazakhstani ended his five-match losing streak in New York. He has no points to defend in the hard court Slam, as he faced a first-round exit while marking his debut at the event last year. Though the young talent’s best results for the season came at Rotterdam and Geneva, his inconsistency draws concern.

Overall, it is safe to say that Tiafoe has a better chance of advancing. Shevchenko’s varied style of play, with a subtle hint of a counterpuncher game style, will have a tough time absorbing the pace from the No. 20 seed’s racket.