Watch US Open — Second Round, Day 3 Free.

What's at Stake

As the US Open enters the second round on Day 3, the stakes rise dramatically for top-seeded competitors aiming to protect their ranking points and championship aspirations. For the unseeded challengers, this stage represents a career-defining opportunity to secure a signature Grand Slam upset and claim a spot in the third round. With the tournament bracket beginning to take shape, surviving these early-round tests is crucial for maintaining energy reserves for the grueling fortnight ahead.

Form Guide

The opening round saw the favorites navigate tricky matchups, with several top contenders shaking off early rust to advance in straight sets. Meanwhile, a handful of dangerous qualifiers and unseeded players carry strong momentum into Day 3, having already pulled off hard-fought victories in the opening round or during the qualifying draw. This contrast in preparation sets up highly competitive matchups, as battle-tested underdogs look to exploit any lingering inconsistency from the seeded stars.

Key Players to Watch

• The Defending Champion — Aims to maintain flawless momentum and avoid an early slip-up on the fast-playing hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
• The Dangerous Floater — An unseeded hard-court specialist capable of redlining their game to disrupt the rhythm of elite opponents.
• The Rising Star — A young talent looking to build on a strong opening-round performance and prove they belong on the sport's biggest stage.

Prediction

While the second round historically produces tense battles and physical three-to-four-set matches, the top-tier seeds are expected to rely on their big-match experience to advance. Expect the majority of the highly ranked players to weather the early storms and secure four-set victories to book their spots in the third round. However, at least one major upset is highly likely on the outer courts as a relentless underdog capitalizes on a slow start from a favored opponent.