AT A GLANCE
Where is Stan Wawrinka vs Grigor Dimitrov taking place? Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York
When is Stan Wawrinka vs Grigor Dimitrov on and what time does it start? Monday 27th August, 2018 - 17:00 (UK)
What channel is Stan Wawrinka vs Grigor Dimitrov on? Amazon have exclusive rights to this year’s US Open, so coverage is online only
Where can I stream Stan Wawrinka vs Grigor Dimitrov? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream the match online via Prime Video
Where can I get tickets for Stan Wawrinka vs Grigor Dimitrov? https://www.usopen.org/en_US/tickets/index.html
THE LOWDOWN
STAN WAWRINKA
- Wawrinka has endured a difficult and injury-blighted season up until this point but has shown some glimpses of good form lately, reaching the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open earlier this month.
- At the very least, the former champion – a wildcard entry into this year’s championships – will be looking to improve upon his Grand Slam performances as he has failed to progress beyond the second round of the last four majors he has entered.
- Although he is just edged out by Dimitrov in career meetings, Wawrinka did prevail in their only meeting in 2018 – a four-set victory in the first round of this year’s Wimbledon.
GRIGOR DIMITROV
- Dimitrov has struggled for form and confidence in recent months and desperately needs a good run here to rediscover his best form, but he will be cursing the draw after being handed an extremely tough first round.
- The Bulgarian will be looking to banish the memory of his first-round loss to Wawrinka at Wimbledon this year and he will need to raise his game significantly from that performance if he is to come through this repeat.
- Dimitrov started off the year in good form on the hard courts before faltering on the clay and grass but he can turn it on on any given day and will look to force the initiative from the outset against a dangerous opponent.
THE STATISTICS
THE PREDICTION
In the pick of the first round matches, 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka – a wildcard entry this year – takes on world number eight Grigor Dimitrov. You would usually expect a meeting such as this to come at the latter stages of a tournament, but both men have not produced their best tennis this year so this will be a test of mental strength as much as anything else.
Expect to see a flurry of one-handed backhand winners between two of the most eye-catching players on tour, but is Wawrinka who is favoured to come through after displaying better form in the run-up to the US Open. ‘Stanimal’ defeated Dimitrov in four sets in the first round of Wimbledon earlier this year, and a repeat scoreline would not be a surprise.
