A rather upward slope.

I'm talking here about the two players who, each in their own way, are starting to ramp up.

Sweeny had a great tournament at the US Open and will obviously want to back it up after this huge confidence boost, which will do him a world of good. He’s a player with a great mentality and a game that can bother quite a few guys on the main tour. I also think the conditions can suit him, especially in terms of gaining a bit more power on serve or in his game, which can sometimes be lacking.

I want to believe in him, but on the other hand, you also have to ask yourself whether this US Open wasn’t just a flash in the pan before he drops back down to a more basic level. His game still has some pretty big weaknesses, partly due to his profile, but he also has a relatively decent draw this time. We’re not asking him to go out and beat a top player; he’s facing someone who’s within his reach, even with an average level that might drop off.

Daniel was forced to go back to the Challenger tour this year, and you could say it’s actually done him some good. He’s racked up a bunch of wins this year and comes in with pretty solid confidence, especially thanks to two qualifying matches already played here, which could give him a nice edge. His US swing was decent without being exceptional. He made a semifinal in Quebec, but after that, he was disappointing. His start to the Asian swing is decent too, but again, nothing special. And even if his year is marked by plenty of wins, a lot of them came on clay, and fewer in faster conditions. Let’s not forget he’s got a forehand with a lot of spin and a solid baseline game. I’m not sure he enjoys being put under pressure quickly. Besides, the stats pretty much back that up.

I know that instinctively, you don’t think of Sweeny as an ultra-powerful and aggressive player, but the Australian has a great net game and doesn’t get pushed around as much as you’d think. Just look at his match against Musetti, who was injured, sure, but that absolutely didn’t bother Sweeny when it came to taking control of the rallies. He should find himself in a similar match pattern, with the same idea: he’ll be able to dictate play and come forward to finish points at the net.