Misolic vs Cerundolo Prediction 1 September 2026
🔊 Filip Misolich is making his US Open main-draw debut, though he failed to come through qualifying in both 2022 and 2023. His presence in New York is all the more surprising given that he currently sits outside the top 500 in the ATP rankings - he received his place in the draw under the protected ranking rule, based on his position of 73rd at the start of the season. The draw has not been kind to him, however, pairing him in the first round with seeded South American Francisco Cerundolo. Their head-to-head record makes for uncomfortable reading for the Austrian: he has yet to take a set off the Argentine in any of their previous meetings.
Head-to-Head
📊 The two players have met twice before, with Francisco Cerundolo winning on both occasions. Their matches were split between hard court and clay, though Filip Misolic failed to take a set in either encounter.
Head-to-head statistics Misolic - Cerundolo
Filip Misolic Player Overview
Filip Misolic arrives at this tournament on the back of a difficult spell - a groin injury that was compounded by general muscular fatigue, developing into an inflammatory condition that kept him away from the court for six months. His last event was a hard-court Challenger in Lille in February, where he retired during his first-round match against Martin Landaluce. Misolic holds a solid proportion of his service games (79%), though his overall serving efficiency is modest. A natural clay-courter, he operates primarily from the baseline, where he can push opponents deep with heavy topspin or shift into attack mode off his two-handed backhand.
Match Results: Filip Misolic
Francisco Cerundolo Player Overview
Francisco Cerundolo is ranked a respectable 25th in the world, but arrives at the US Open in poor form - on a three-match losing streak with just one win on hard courts this summer. His record at the New York Major is also modest, though he has reached the second round in three consecutive years. His game is built around controlling the tempo of rallies, though not through his serve, which he uses primarily as a starting point rather than a weapon - he holds just 67% of his service games. From the baseline, however, the Argentine plays with plenty of aggression, even if that approach comes with a high error count.
Match Results: Francisco Cerundolo
Key factors
- Both players average more than 32 games per match.
- The Austrian has been out for over six months with injury.
- In both of their previous meetings, the Argentine won by a margin of at least six games.
Expected scenario
Cerundolo is expected to dominate this match, seizing control early through his powerful forehand and consistently targeting Misolic, who is carrying an injury. The Austrian will look to drag him into long, grinding baseline exchanges, using his solid two-handed backhand to draw out the unforced errors that can come with Cerundolo's aggressive game.
⭐ Editor's Pick
It's hard to see Filip Misolic, returning from an extended absence, making an immediate impact - particularly against an opponent he has failed to take a set off in two previous meetings. With Misolic's serve offering little threat, Francisco Cerundolo should be able to return aggressively, disrupt the rhythm with disguised drop shots mid-rally, and keep the Austrian moving - a concern given his recent injury. We expect the South American to win comfortably again, without Misolic ever really threatening an upset. Our pick: Total Sets - Under 3.5.
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Betting Tips: Filip Misolic - Francisco Cerundolo
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