August 31, 2016 | By Eric C. Peck
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Novak Djokovic will find himself in new territory Wednesday as he takes the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day Three of the 2016 U.S. Open. His round two opponent, Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, shares a distinction not held by many Djokovic opponents, the world number one has yet to beat him. In their only meeting, the 23-year-old Czech defeated the defending U.S. Open champion Djokovic in the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo in April. Vesely is one of two top 100 players with more wins than losses against Djokovic, as world number 23 Ivo Karlovic holds a 2-1 record over Djokovic.
Djokovic is 43-2 in Grand Slam round two matchups, falling at Roland Garros in 2005 (retired) and in 2008 at Wimbledon (a loss to Marat Safin), and is looking to reach the third round in his 33rd consecutive Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, Vesely is 2-11 lifetime against top 10 opponents, with wins over Djokovic at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo in April and over world number eight Dominic Thiem in the second round at Wimbledon.
On the new Grandstand, fifth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada will face American qualifier Ryan Harrison. Each has a win in two career meetings, the most recent, a 2012 victory in San Jose by Raonic. The big Canadian is 17-3 in Grand Slam round two matches, including a perfect 4-0 mark in Flushing Meadows, and is looking to reach the third round in Flushing Meadows for the fifth consecutive year.
Back at Ashe under the Wednesday evening lights, the fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal faces Italy’s Andreas Seppi. Nadal holds a commanding 7-1 lifetime record over Seppi in eight career meetings, the most recent an Olympic matchup earlier in the month at the Rio Games, a 6-3, 6-3 triumph in the Round of 32.
On the women’s side of the draw, second-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany faces Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Making her ninth main draw appearance at the U.S. Open, Kerber is creeping up on Serena Williams’ world number one ranking with each victory. Her best result at Flushing Meadows was a semifinals appearance in 2011 where she fell to eventual champ Samantha Stosur.
Petra Kvitova kicks things off at 11:00 a.m. at Ashe as she faces the unseeded Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey. Buyukakcay is making her main draw debut at the U.S. Open, having fallen in qualifying six consecutive years 2010-2015, and has the distinction of being the first Turkish woman to ever appear in the U.S. Open main draw.
World number three Garbine Muguruza will play under the lights at Ashe Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. against Latvian Anastasija Sevastova. Muguruza is playing in her 16th Grand Slam main draw, and is through to the second round of a major for the 13th time in her career.
Americans Christina McHale and Madison Keys also highlight Wednesday’s schedule, as McHale faces the tough Italian and seventh-seeded Roberta Vinci, while Keys draws wild card and fellow American Kayla Day.
Click here for the full slate of action on Day Three of the 2016 U.S. Open.
