Three to See, US Open Day 8: Raducanu vs. Rogers; Djokovic vs. Brooksby; Zverev vs. Sinner

You Should Know: Jenson Brooksby is for real

Novak Djokovic vs. Jenson Brooksby

Can any player disrupt Djokovic’s rhythm or throw him off his finely-tuned game? Many have tried, few have succeeded. Brooksby will be the next to make an attempt. At 20 years old, with little tour experience, and a game that is regularly described as “strange,” he’ll also be one of the least likely. Brooksby will bring an arsenal of unusual shots—two-handed volleys, two-handed slices and sidespins, occasional moon balls, serves that vary widely in velocity. A style, in other words, that even a 15-year veteran like Djokovic wouldn’t have seen before. Just as important, Brooksby will bring a strong sense of self-belief, and an ability to dig himself out of deep holes in the score. But just as Djokovic won’t have faced a game like Brooksby’s, Brooksby won’t have faced a game as good as Djokovic’s. Winner: Djokovic

Alexander Zverev vs. Jannik Sinner

Zverev and Sinner have played twice, and each has won once. That’s not a lot to go on, but there probably won’t be any surprises when they meet for a third time. We know Sinner likes to step forward and hit hard from the baseline, while Zverev likes to settle back and grind his opponent down. Both have good serves and both feel especially comfortable with their two-handed backhands. But at 20, Sinner is still finding his game, and can still lose it from time to time. At 24, Zverev, who has won 15 straight matches, seems to have solved, at least for the moment, whatever issues he had in the past and is ready to fulfill his sky-high potential. He doesn’t play bad matches these days. Winner: Zverev

Shelby Rogers vs. Emma Raducanu

The 28-year-old Rogers and the 18-year-old Raducanu both took the Open by storm on Saturday. While Rogers was upsetting No. 1 seed Ash Barty, Radacanu was demolishing a difficult-to-demolish opponent in Sara Sorribes Tormo. Who will keep that momentum going when the American and the Brit meet on Monday? Rogers has been here before; she’s been playing the Open for a decade, and made the quarterfinals last year. Raducanu hasn’t done anything like this in New York, but if she plays with the same fearlessness that she has showed so far, it will be tough for Rogers to keep up with her from the baseline. Rogers has the bigger serve and hits the heavier ball; Raducanu is quicker and can work the corners equally well with her forehand or backhand. It should be a good one. Winner: Raducanu