US Open 2022: Botic Van de Zandschulp vs. Tomas Machac Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 US Open as Botic van de Zandschulp takes on Tomas Machac in the first round on Monday, August 29th, 2022.

Last year Botic van de Zandschulp produced a mesmeric run to the quarterfinals of the US Open as a qualifier. This year, he returns as an established top 30 player. He will look to recreate those memories again when he opens up against Czech qualifier Tomas Machac. Who will prevail?

Botic van de Zandschulp was virtually unknown to the tennis fraternity at this time last season. Only the most ardent Challenger Tour watchers would have caught a glimpse of his talents. But beyond that, he was very much in unchartered territory. So when he made that incredible run to the quarterfinals as qualifier in New York, his potential was there for all to see. He scored two top 10 wins in that run and only a defeat by eventual champion Daniil Medvedev prevented him from going further, while at the same time holding his reputation intact. He will make his return to the Big Apple with a lot more swagger in his game and certainly a new-found confidence. He starts his campaign against Czech qualifier Tomas Machac.

Tomas Machac, for his part, navigated his way past a very treacherous qualifying route. The 21-year-old Next Gen starcarried his momentum to the US Open from his title run at an ITF event in Poland a week ago. And Machac extended his winning sequence to eight matches after escaping the shackles of Flavio Cobolli 7-6 5-7 6-1 in the final round of qualifying to reach the US Open main draw for the first time.

Botic van de Zandschulp and Tomas Machac have not played each other on the ATP Tour. However, they have contested four meetings in Challengers and ITF circuit where the head-to-head is 2-2. Machac has won their last two matches including the Koblenz Challenger final in 2020. The Czech might borrow a leaf out of the van de Zandschulp playbook and potentially make a deep run in his maiden US Open main draw. He certainly possesses the attributes that will make so tough to beat and this could be a much sterner test for the Dutchman to see off.