2021 US Open First Round – Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire taking place? Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
When is Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire on and what time does it start? Monday 30th August, 2021 – not before 16:00 (UK)
What surface is Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire being played on? Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire
What channel is Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire on in the UK? Amazon have exclusive rights to show the 2021 US Open in the UK so it is worth checking the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs for Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire
Where can I stream Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to stream Dusan Lajovic vs Benoit Paire live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
DUSAN LAJOVIC
31-year-old Dusan Lajovic reached a career-high 23rd in the ATP world rankings back in 2019 after reaching the Monte-Carlo Masters final, where he lost to Fabio Fognini. The Serb went on to win his only ATP title to date later that year at the Umag Open. His best showing at a Grand Slam is two round of 16 exits, one at Roland-Garros to Rafael Nadal in 2014 and more recently this year to Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open.
BENOIT PAIRE
32-year-old Benoit Paire’s 12-24 record for 2021 looks awful on paper, and it is, but the Frenchman’s confidence is firmly on the mend now after a torrid time over the pandemic on tour. The former world number 18 has reached three quarter-finals since a sorry first round exit at Wimbledon last month, including a brilliant run at the Cincinnati Open where he beat John Isner and Denis Shapovalov en-route. Paire has exited four Grand Slams at the round of 16 stage over the years, including the US Open in 2015.
THE PREDICTION
Both Dusan Lajovic and Benoit Paire have suffered for large parts of the last 18 months on tour but if this fixture was drawn earlier this year there would be only one outcome. For much of 2021 it looked as Benoit Paire had unfortunately lost love for the game, and certainly like he needed a break from the tour. His determination ton continue through the doldrums and play his way back into form has to be commended, with a stunning run of wins at the Cincinnati Open all about his returning self-belief. Dusan Lajovic is one of the more competitive clay specialists out there on other surfaces, and a recent victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Canadian Open shows what he can do on hard. However, Paire has won the last two meetings between the two for a 2-1 head-to-head record, including a five-setter in the first round here in 2016. Take both players to win a set here, as has happened in each of their three previous meeting, with Paire the likelier winner come the end of it. This could be a thriller.
