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U.S. Open Picks: Day 7 Odds and Matchup Analysis
By Ricky Dimon

GILLES MULLER (-200) VS. IGOR KUNITSYN (+150)

This has to be one of the most improbable third-round matchups in U.S. Open history, mainly because of Kunitsyn.

Muller is not exactly a household name, but something happens to him when he steps on the grounds of the National Tennis Center. In 2005, he stunned Andy Roddick (then a Top-5 player) in the first round and in 2008, he qualified for the main draw before going all the way to the quarterfinals. Another trip to the second week appears likely after Muller ousted an in-form Ernests Gulbis on Friday.

As for Kunitsyn, he’s coming off a grueling win over Jurgen Melzer in a fifth-set tiebreaker; he has never advanced this far at a Grand Slam.

Pick: MULLER

DONALD YOUNG (-165) VS. JUAN IGNACIO CHELA (+120)

It’s hard to imagine Donald Young losing this one on a fast court. Chela is no hardcourt slouch, but the 32-year-old does his best work on clay. He took advantage of an incredible draw to reach the third round, getting a retirement before beating unheralded Belgian Steve Darcis.

Young, a Washington semifinalist earlier this summer, is coming into his own at age 22. The American picked up arguably the biggest win of his career over Stanislas Wawrinka on Friday. The only thing that could keep Young back Sunday are nerves, and clearly he has those under control. After all, he took out Wawrinka in a fifth-set tiebreaker, which he dominated 7-1.

Pick: YOUNG

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO VS. GILLES SIMON (OVER/UNDER 3.5 SETS)

Simon is a perennial underdog despite his consistently-high ranking, and it will be no different when he takes the court against Del Potro on Sunday. The question, though, is why.

Simon, like Del Potro, is having a resurgent season after dealing with injuries. He won the Hamburg title this summer and recently advanced to the Cincinnati quarterfinals. Del Potro began 2011 in outstanding form but then cooled off. The Argentine has rolled so far in New York, but he'll have to wake up against an opponent like Simon, who is in a different league from Filippo Volandri and Diego Junqueira.

These two also faced each other in the third round in 2008, Del Potro prevailing in a five-set thriller. More of the same should be expected.

Pick: OVER (-120)

SABINE LISICKI (-120) VS. VERA ZVONAREVA (-110)

Lisicki finds herself in the U.S. Open fourth round after a mere two hours and two minutes of court time. In between two blowout victories, the German got a walkover past Venus Williams.

Zvonareva needed more time than that (two hours and seven minutes) just to beat Kateryna Bondarenko in second-round action. The Russian also had a relatively tough time with Anabel Median Garrigues on Friday.

Zvonareva is playing good tennis, but she’s not as hot as Lisicki, who reached the Wimbledon semis and won a title in Dallas last week.  Plus, the difference between their mental games is night and day.

Pick: LISICKI