US Open Tennis 2016: TV Schedule, Picks for Sunday Afternoon Draw
Rafael Nadal has made it through the first three rounds of the U.S. Open. However, when the veteran Spaniard faces Lucas Pouille of France on Sunday, he will be entering a critical phase of the tournament.
Nadal has been battling a wrist injury that has caused problems for him in recent tournaments. However, after his third-round victory over Andrey Kuznetsov, the Spaniard said his wrist is giving him fewer problems now than it did earlier this year.
"The only thing I know is that I am happy," he said Friday, per the ATP World Tour's official website. "I am excited to play the U.S. Open. For me, it's great news that I am on the tour again and that I am playing every day with less pain on the wrist. That's the most important thing."
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| Johanna Konta (13) vs. Anastasija Sevastova | Arthur Ashe | ESPN2 | Konta |
| Madison Keys (8) vs. Caroline Wozniacki | Arthur Ashe | ESPN2 | Keys |
| Rafael Nadal (4) vs. Lucas Pouille (24) | Arthur Ashe | ESPN2 | Nadal |
| Roberta Vinci (7) vs. Lesia Tsurenko | Louis Armstrong | ESPN2 | Vinci |
| Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (9) vs. Jack Sock (26) | Louis Armstrong | ESPN2 | Sock |
| Gael Monfils (10) vs. Marcos Baghdatis | Grandstand | ESPN2 | Monfils |
If the fourth-seeded Nadal wins his fourth-round match, he would pass a significant milestone. He has not advanced beyond the fourth round at a major since he won the title at Roland Garros in 2014. He got to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2014.
Nadal has won each of his first three matches at the U.S. Open in straight sets. Pouille, the 24th seed, has advanced to the fourth round by winning two five-set matches and a four-setter.
Nadal and Pouille are scheduled to play the third match of the day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where competition is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET.
ESPN2 will broadcast the Nadal-Pouille match and all of Sunday's round-of-16 action.
Eighth-seeded Madison Keys will meet Caroline Wozniacki in the second match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Keys has gotten off to a sharp start at the U.S. Open, beating Alison Riske, Kayla Day and Naomi Osaka in her first three matches.
The WTA took to Twitter after her third-round comeback Friday:
Osaka forced Keys to the limit, pushing her to a third-set tiebreaker. Keys also needed three sets to defeat Riske, but she beat Day by a convincing 6-1, 6-1 margin.
Wozniacki defeated Taylor Townsend, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Monica Niculescu in her first three matches. Townsend took her to a third set, but Wozniacki beat Niculescu and Kuznetsova in straight sets.
Predictions
The key for Nadal is to remain pain-free. He said he is feeling better, but it's difficult to see his wrist not causing problems at some point during the second week of the tournament.
The skilled Nadal should have enough to get past Pouille, but the longer the match goes, the better it will be for the Frenchman. Look for Nadal to win the match in four sets.
Wozniacki's showing in the tournament is hard to believe. She was a first-round loser at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and she did not compete at Roland Garros.
Keys has a well-developed game and has reached the fourth round at all four Grand Slam tournaments this year. Look for her to outlast Wozniacki in three sets.
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