Alexei Popyrin vs Alejandro Tabilo Prediction U.S. Open - New York · Sep 3, 2026

Analysis

Both men arrive with momentum from identical first-round scorelines: Popyrin came through 3-1 against Grigor Dimitrov on 31 August, while Tabilo needed the same four sets to see off Yannick Hanfmann. That gives each of them match sharpness but also a similar amount of court time heading into this second-round meeting. Popyrin's profile fits the fast New York hard courts particularly well — a heavy first serve and an aggressive forehand that shortens rallies, which is exactly the kind of game that travels in best-of-five night sessions. Tabilo's left-handed angles and flat, early ball-striking are awkward for anyone, and he showed against Hanfmann that he can absorb pressure over a long match, but his margins tend to be thinner when the serve isn't landing. The most likely shape is a physical four-setter in which Popyrin's serve carries him through the tight moments, with Tabilo taking a set on the back of one strong return game. A straight-sets outcome for either player would require the other's serve to break down badly, which neither showed in round one.