Tennis

Jakub Mensik Poised to Upset Nuno Borges at US OpenSaturday's third-round action at the US Open presents a compelling matchup between rising star Jakub Mensik and seasoned veteran Nuno Borges. Despite Borges' impressive recent form, Mensik emerges as a potential upset candidate due to his exceptional talent and favorable odds.Mensik, an 18-year-old Czech, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill throughout the tournament. While he may experience some fatigue from his grueling second-round victory, his youth and aggressive baseline play could prove advantageous against Borges.Borges, ranked 34th in the world, has enjoyed a meteoric rise on the ATP Tour. However, his serve remains a potential weakness, and Mensik's powerful groundstrokes and exceptional drop shots could exploit this vulnerability.Statistically, Mensik holds a slight edge over Borges in terms of hold percentage, both overall and at the Challenger level. This suggests that Mensik possesses the potential to dominate the serve and dictate the pace of the match.While Borges' experience and recent success cannot be discounted, Mensik's talent and favorable odds make him an intriguing underdog. The oddsmakers' implied probability of 38.46% for Mensik's victory seems conservative, as his chances are closer to 50%.

Irina-Camelia Begu Poised to Upset Linda Noskova at Roland GarrosThe rain-soaked Roland Garros tournament has finally resumed, and Day 5 promises an exciting clash between Irina-Camelia Begu and world No. 29 Linda Noskova. Despite Noskova's higher ranking, Begu's clay-court prowess and recent form make her a formidable opponent.Begu's season started late due to an injury, but she has since played a heavy clay-court schedule, reaching the fourth round in Rome. Her ability to construct points and her impressive hold and break percentages on clay give her an edge over Noskova, who has limited experience on the surface.Noskova, on the other hand, has had success on hard courts but has struggled on clay, winning only four of her 10 matches at the WTA level. Her shaky performance against Harriet Dart in the first round raises concerns about her ability to handle the challenges of clay.Furthermore, Begu has a history of performing well at Roland Garros, reaching the fourth round in 2021. Her experience and familiarity with the conditions could prove crucial against Noskova.While Noskova defeated Begu in Indian Wells last year, the clay-court surface presents a different dynamic. Begu's ranking of 127 does not reflect her true potential on clay, and she is likely to pose a significant threat to Noskova.