US Open 2022: Marin Cilic vs. Dan Evans Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 US Open as Marin Cilic takes on Dan Evans in the third round on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022.

Will Marin Cilic turn back time and produce another remarkable run at the US Open? That seems unlikely, as the Croat is set to face some serious opposition from this stage going forward. And for starters he will take on the silky hands of Dan Evans on Saturday. Who will progress?

Marin Cilic stood tall in baking heat of Flushing Meadows and brushed aside Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-3 7-6 6-3 in his second-round match. Cilic was a monster of his old self particularly in the first set, almost reminiscent to his championship-winning run in 2014. He smashed 14 winners to his opponent’s 2, and once he raced to a 4-1 lead, he was uncatchable. Ramos Vinolasduly responded in the second set. And after the two players exchanged breaks, Cilic was forced to save a set point at 5-4 on his own serve and went on to force a tiebreak. The Croat, once more, came up with some fine shots, including a forehand drop shot winner to steal the set. The one-time Grand Slam winnerwould only need one break of serve in the third set, and he kept consolidating from the moment he established a 3-2 lead.

Dan Evans, meanwhile, joined the British contingent of Murray, Norrie and Jack Draper in the third round at the 2022 US Open. Evans, who is playing in his sixth main draw appearance in New York, has now made at least the third round five times and is on course to equal his best appearance in these parts (the Round of 16 he attained at last year’s edition). He was at his effervescentbest in dispatching Duckworth – the injury-hit Aussie – who threatened an upset, but was outplayed in four sets.

Marin Cilic and Dan Evans have played once before, and that was at the 2017 Australian Open. Evans, against the odds, won that match. And odds are stacked against him on Saturday at the US Open. Cilic is the oddsmakers favorite, but this is far from a done deal. The British No. 2 has consistently put up a solid base with which he has continued to build during the North American hard-court season. I think Evans might nick this.