Dimitrov Grigor vs Popyrin Alexei preview
Grigor Dimitrov and Alexei Popyrin meet in the opening round of the ATP US Open on August 31, 2026, at 20:40 UTC. Dimitrov enters this main draw contest after successfully navigating three rounds of qualifying. The two players share an even head-to-head record of two wins apiece across their four previous official meetings. Their most recent encounter occurred at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where Dimitrov secured a victory in straight sets.
Popyrin, who previously defeated Novak Djokovic at the 2024 US Open, enters this year's tournament following a period where he required a wildcard entry. Dimitrov, a former US Open semifinalist from 2019, is positioned in a section of the draw that could lead to a third-round match against the number one seed, Alexander Zverev. This match marks the beginning of their respective campaigns at the New York grand slam.