Dennis Novak qualified for the main field of a major for the third time in 2018. At the US Open, the Austrian Davis Cup player will also meet Roger Federer in a match against Benoit Paire.
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Benoit Paire lies playfully somewhere between Grigor Dimitrov and Peter Polansky: Not good enough to keep up with the absolute top of the world. Far too good to struggle through the qualifying panels of the Grand Slam tournaments. What does this mean for Dennis Novak? It’s hard to say.
The Austrian fought his way into the main field this year both in Melbourne and most recently in Wimbledon. In Australia, Novak lost to Dimitrov. In London, the Lower Austrian defeated Polansky. And then Lucas Pouille.
In New York City Dennis Novak has so far given a mostly confident impression, but every day break after the successful qualification on Friday was still important: “A slight cough never helps, especially in the extremely summery conditions at the US Open. Novak himself was not always completely satisfied with himself, and the Davis Cup player likes to verbalise brief periods of frustration.
Benoit Paire stands in the way of an extensive birthday party on Tuesday (fourth match after 11 a.m. on Court 8): After all, a place in round two is up for grabs, which would most likely bring a duel with Roger Federer. 25 years old is Novak, a few days before buddy Dominic Thiem.
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The Frenchman is currently in 56th place in the world rankings, his best match was just lost by Paire in 2018: In Halle/Westphalia, 29-year-old Federer was on the brink of defeat and could not use two match points. The backhand is the better shot of Paires, the serve should not be underestimated. Despite the very slow conditions in New York.
Nevertheless, Dennis Novak does not have to take it easy at all. The return worked well in the qualification, the forehand also irradiated really plucking. And you don’t play for a meeting with Roger Federer every day after all.
Here is the men’s single tableau at the US Open 2018