It was a good one indy.....Good luck!
#8 seed
Madison Keys overcomes fellow American Allison Riske.....4-6...7-6...6-2
Day 1 Recap: Good day for favorites and a favorite new arena.
On a day of debuts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, a few old favorites showed they still have what it takes.
A pair of two-time men’s winners, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, each advanced, shaking off their respective left wrist injuries to ease into Round 2. They were joined in the winner’s circle by fellow former champions Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004) and Marin Cilic (2014) and two top-ranked women: No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber and No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza.
A few favorites weren’t as fortunate, with early trips out of town for 2015 quarterfinalist Richard Gasquet and Rio gold medalist Monica Puig.
And with that, the 2016 US Open was off and swinging. The first official winner of the tournament was Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay, who dismissed American Irina Falconi, 6-2, 6-1, in just under an hour, kicking off the chase for this year’s men’s and women’s singles titles – with the final coronation looming at the long end of a fortnight that sports the well-earned moniker of the toughest two weeks in tennis.
The star of Day 1, however, was the site itself. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center received a nearly complete makeover for 2016, with a new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium that was highlighted during the Opening Night Ceremony and a gleaming new Grandstand that was christened with two of the day’s best matches – comeback victories by Caroline Wozniacki and John Isner – which only slightly outpaced the evening marathon in Louis Armstrong Stadium won by Jack Sock over Taylor Fritz.
In Arthur Ashe Stadium, meantime, order reigned, with 2015 finalist Roberta Vinci, Kerber and Nadal combining to lose no sets and just 13 games – or 13 fewer games than Isner dropped in his five-set win over Frances Tiafoe. Or at least it did until the night session – a marathon of its own that ended with No. 8 seed Madison Keys finally outlasting fellow American Alison Riske at 1:48 a.m., the latest finish for a women’s match in recorded US Open history.
And so we move on to Tuesday – where, technically, we ended with Keys-Riske – and Serena Williams and Andy Murray kicking off their runs at the title as Flushing fans await the first major upset to rock the draw.
Here’s a recap of the day that was and a look ahead to Day 2 of the 2016 US Open.
Match of the Day: The new Grandstand made its formal introduction with the day’s finest encounter, a three-set barnburner between two fan-friendly combatants with contrasting styles. The counter-punching, baseline-hugging Caroline Wozniacki is a two-time US Open finalist who has nonetheless struggled this year, first with injuries and then with consistency, entering the Open outside the Top 50 and sporting a 5-7 record since March. Taylor Townsend, meantime, is a tennis throwback, an all-courter who mixes rushes to the net with a wild lefty forehand. The result was pure entertainment in tennis’ youngest arena. Townsend came out firing, flummoxing Wozniacki and taking the first set. But the Dane found her game in the second stanza, measuring her backhand passing shots to force a decider that seesawed back and forth until Wozniacki won the final two games to close out the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Her reward? A date with 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in a match that could match this Day 1 treat.
Player of the Day: A disappointing season for John Isner looked like it was about to hit bottom. For the first time in three years, the North Carolina native lost his spot as the No. 1-ranked American man shortly before the Open, and he entered New York without a tournament title for the first time since 2009. The Open, his last best chance to turn it around, unraveled quickly on Day 1, as the 31-year-old fell behind his 18-year-old compatriot, Frances Tiafoe, two sets to love, the big-serving big man seemingly out of juice on a hot August day in the new Grandstand. But then he eked out the third set in a tiebreak and dominated the fourth to take control of the match – only to lose it again. Tiafoe went up a break in the fifth and served for the match at 5-3, normally a comfortable position against a man not known for his return of serve. But Isner played a strong game to break, got back in the groove on his serve and forced the most dramatic event in tennis, exclusive to the US Open: the fifth-set tiebreak. Isner claimed the mini-break in the breaker right off the bat and never let Tiafoe challenge, closing out the two-set comeback, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6, to advance to the second round for the eighth consecutive year.
Upset of the Day: After some fits and starts, Richard Gasquet has developed into a solid US Open performer, a semifinalist in 2013 and a quarterfinalist a year ago. He entered this year’s tournament as the No. 13 seed, with reasonable hopes for another deep run. Instead, he was the first man run out of Flushing, crushed by the booming forehand of fast-rising Brit Kyle Edmund, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. It was a breakthrough victory for the 21-year-old, who cracked the Top 100 this year and is now making a steady climb toward the Top 50. On Monday, he controlled the action throughout, dominating the Frenchman to post his third career Grand Slam victory. Next up, he’ll aim for a first third-round Slam showing against American wild card Ernesto Escobedo.
Quote of the Day: “I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up and it’s almost 2 a.m., so who wants to go party?” - Madison Keys, on how she felt after wrapping up Day 1 with a three-set victory over Alison Riske
Looking Ahead: Serena Williams begins her run at history Tuesday night with a tricky first-rounder against 2014 US Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova. Williams, who is bidding for her Open era record-setting 23rd Grand Slam singles title and seventh women’s singles triumph, has played in just three matches since Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury. A slow start could be fatal against the world’s No. 29 player, who barely missed out on a seed here this year. (She was No. 36 when the seeds were announced.)
Other players kicking off their Opens in the top half of the women’s draw include Venus Williams, who is playing her best tennis in years and is a genuine title contender in Flushing, as well as reigning Emirates Airline US Open Series champion Agnieszka Radwanska and fifth seed Simona Halep.
The men’s bottom half hits the Flushing concrete as well on Tuesday, led by reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray, men’s Series champion and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori and No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka. Also returning to New York for the first time in three years is 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, the most dangerous unseeded player at the Open since Kim Clijsters seven years ago.
On a day of debuts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, a few old favorites showed they still have what it takes.
A pair of two-time men’s winners, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, each advanced, shaking off their respective left wrist injuries to ease into Round 2. They were joined in the winner’s circle by fellow former champions Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004) and Marin Cilic (2014) and two top-ranked women: No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber and No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza.
A few favorites weren’t as fortunate, with early trips out of town for 2015 quarterfinalist Richard Gasquet and Rio gold medalist Monica Puig.
And with that, the 2016 US Open was off and swinging. The first official winner of the tournament was Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay, who dismissed American Irina Falconi, 6-2, 6-1, in just under an hour, kicking off the chase for this year’s men’s and women’s singles titles – with the final coronation looming at the long end of a fortnight that sports the well-earned moniker of the toughest two weeks in tennis.
The star of Day 1, however, was the site itself. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center received a nearly complete makeover for 2016, with a new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium that was highlighted during the Opening Night Ceremony and a gleaming new Grandstand that was christened with two of the day’s best matches – comeback victories by Caroline Wozniacki and John Isner – which only slightly outpaced the evening marathon in Louis Armstrong Stadium won by Jack Sock over Taylor Fritz.
In Arthur Ashe Stadium, meantime, order reigned, with 2015 finalist Roberta Vinci, Kerber and Nadal combining to lose no sets and just 13 games – or 13 fewer games than Isner dropped in his five-set win over Frances Tiafoe. Or at least it did until the night session – a marathon of its own that ended with No. 8 seed Madison Keys finally outlasting fellow American Alison Riske at 1:48 a.m., the latest finish for a women’s match in recorded US Open history.
And so we move on to Tuesday – where, technically, we ended with Keys-Riske – and Serena Williams and Andy Murray kicking off their runs at the title as Flushing fans await the first major upset to rock the draw.
Here’s a recap of the day that was and a look ahead to Day 2 of the 2016 US Open.
Match of the Day: The new Grandstand made its formal introduction with the day’s finest encounter, a three-set barnburner between two fan-friendly combatants with contrasting styles. The counter-punching, baseline-hugging Caroline Wozniacki is a two-time US Open finalist who has nonetheless struggled this year, first with injuries and then with consistency, entering the Open outside the Top 50 and sporting a 5-7 record since March. Taylor Townsend, meantime, is a tennis throwback, an all-courter who mixes rushes to the net with a wild lefty forehand. The result was pure entertainment in tennis’ youngest arena. Townsend came out firing, flummoxing Wozniacki and taking the first set. But the Dane found her game in the second stanza, measuring her backhand passing shots to force a decider that seesawed back and forth until Wozniacki won the final two games to close out the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Her reward? A date with 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in a match that could match this Day 1 treat.
Player of the Day: A disappointing season for John Isner looked like it was about to hit bottom. For the first time in three years, the North Carolina native lost his spot as the No. 1-ranked American man shortly before the Open, and he entered New York without a tournament title for the first time since 2009. The Open, his last best chance to turn it around, unraveled quickly on Day 1, as the 31-year-old fell behind his 18-year-old compatriot, Frances Tiafoe, two sets to love, the big-serving big man seemingly out of juice on a hot August day in the new Grandstand. But then he eked out the third set in a tiebreak and dominated the fourth to take control of the match – only to lose it again. Tiafoe went up a break in the fifth and served for the match at 5-3, normally a comfortable position against a man not known for his return of serve. But Isner played a strong game to break, got back in the groove on his serve and forced the most dramatic event in tennis, exclusive to the US Open: the fifth-set tiebreak. Isner claimed the mini-break in the breaker right off the bat and never let Tiafoe challenge, closing out the two-set comeback, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6, to advance to the second round for the eighth consecutive year.
Upset of the Day: After some fits and starts, Richard Gasquet has developed into a solid US Open performer, a semifinalist in 2013 and a quarterfinalist a year ago. He entered this year’s tournament as the No. 13 seed, with reasonable hopes for another deep run. Instead, he was the first man run out of Flushing, crushed by the booming forehand of fast-rising Brit Kyle Edmund, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. It was a breakthrough victory for the 21-year-old, who cracked the Top 100 this year and is now making a steady climb toward the Top 50. On Monday, he controlled the action throughout, dominating the Frenchman to post his third career Grand Slam victory. Next up, he’ll aim for a first third-round Slam showing against American wild card Ernesto Escobedo.
Quote of the Day: “I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up and it’s almost 2 a.m., so who wants to go party?” - Madison Keys, on how she felt after wrapping up Day 1 with a three-set victory over Alison Riske
Looking Ahead: Serena Williams begins her run at history Tuesday night with a tricky first-rounder against 2014 US Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova. Williams, who is bidding for her Open era record-setting 23rd Grand Slam singles title and seventh women’s singles triumph, has played in just three matches since Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury. A slow start could be fatal against the world’s No. 29 player, who barely missed out on a seed here this year. (She was No. 36 when the seeds were announced.)
Other players kicking off their Opens in the top half of the women’s draw include Venus Williams, who is playing her best tennis in years and is a genuine title contender in Flushing, as well as reigning Emirates Airline US Open Series champion Agnieszka Radwanska and fifth seed Simona Halep.
The men’s bottom half hits the Flushing concrete as well on Tuesday, led by reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray, men’s Series champion and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori and No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka. Also returning to New York for the first time in three years is 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, the most dangerous unseeded player at the Open since Kim Clijsters seven years ago.
The pursuit of history headlines Day 2.
First-round play continues on Day 2 of the 2016 US Open, as a host of tennis’ top names take to the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Women’s top seed Serena Williams leads the day’s lineup of luminaries, especially eager to take the first step in her latest pursuit of history. Other top women seeing first-round action Tuesday include fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanksa, No. 5 seed Simona Halep, sixth seed Venus Williams and 2011 US Open champ Samantha Stosur. Leading men in the drama include second-seeded Andy Murray, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, No. 6 Kei Nishikori, 2009 US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro, No. 8 Dominic Thiem and Americans Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson and Donald Young. With so much on the line, and so much talent between the lines, Day 2 promises to be one to remember.
Last year at this time, Serena Williams came to the Open in hot pursuit of the game’s ultimate prize—the Grand Slam. A surprising semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci halted that quest, but the women’s No. 1 is back this year on the brink of another historic breakthrough, as a win here would give her 23 career Slam singles crowns, untying her from Steffi Graf for most major wins in the Open era.
It’s been a rather un-Serena like season for Williams, who, despite reaching finals at each of the year’s first three Slams, has left just one—Wimbledon—with the champion’s trophy. In fact, the women’s game’s No. 1 has won just two titles this year, adding a win on clay in Rome to her Wimbledon triumph. A troublesome shoulder has limited her play this summer; since her roll over the lawns of London, Williams, 34, has played just three matches, the defending women’s singles gold medalist losing in the third round at the Rio Olympics to Elina Svitolina.
It’s still tough to pick against the six-time US Open champ, but her first step toward history might be a tricky one, as she takes on Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, an aggressive slugger who’s very comfortable on the hard courts of the Open. A semifinalist here in 2014, the 28-year-old Russian reached that same stage at the 2015 Australian and, at the recent Rio Games, paired with Elena Vesnina to win gold in doubles. Williams owns a 4-1 career edge over Makarova and has beaten the Russian both times they’ve met here. This figures as an interesting first-rounder—likely more interesting than the top-seed would prefer. This goes three, but the top seed goes on.
Serena’s older sister Venus Williams has experienced something of a resurgence this year, turning back the clock and turning more than a few heads in the process. Venus, now 36, comes into the Open ranked No. 6, her highest ranking in more than five years. The two-time US Open champ reached the semis of Wimbledon this summer, then backed that up with a run to the final at the Stanford stop on the Emirates Airline US Open Series. Williams is 68-14 career here in Flushing and ought to be able to add to that win total, as she takes on Kateryna Kozlova, a 22-year-old from Ukraine, who is playing in just her third career main draw at a major. She’s 0-2 in her two prior appearances. Kozlova’s best performance this year was a semifinal showing on clay in Istanbul. The two women have never met, and their inaugural encounter figures to be a brief one. In two, Venus advances.
It’s probably not fair to use a word like “resurgence” when you’re talking about Murray, the men’s second seed, since he’s been a fixture at the top of the men’s game for years. But the 2012 US Open champ has sizzled from the start of this year and looks very much like a guy who’s tired of being No. 2. Murray has taken four singles titles this year, including his third Slam singles crown at Wimbledon in July. On top of that, the great Scot captured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games and reached the final at both the Aussie Open and Roland Garros. As great as Murray is, he is somehow able to continually improve, clearly committed to narrowing the gap between himself and men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Reuniting with coach Ivan Lendl just prior to Wimbledon, Murray seems more able than ever to channel the steely concentration that was the trademark of his mentor through the tightest spots in the biggest matches. Murray, 29, loves the hard courts of New York and starts his quest for a second US Open crown against 31-year-old Czech Lukas Rosol, who’s never been past the second round here in five previous tries. Rosol’s best finish this year was a run to the semis at the clay-court event in Geneva. The No. 2 seed is 2-0 against the Czech in career matchups, but Rosol has tested him each time, taking a set from Murray in each of the clashes. Still, under the lights on the big stage of Ashe, the former champ figures as the current favorite. In three, Murray is on to round two.
One of the genuine feel-good stories of the year is the return of del Potro as a serious challenger in the men’s game. The 2009 US Open champ has never been back to a Grand Slam final since then, as a pair of serious wrist injuries has taken him off the court for lengthy stretches, prevented him from finding the form that lifted him as high as No. 4 in the world in 2010. But this summer, the popular Argentine reached the semis in Stuttgart, knocked out Wawrinka at Wimbledon and beat both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in winning a silver medal at the Olympics. Today, the 27-year-old, playing this year’s Open as a wild card, looks to again find his feet in Flushing, starting his campaign against his countryman Diego Schwartzman, a 24-year-old baseliner who this year won his first career singles title at the clay-court Istanbul event. Schwartzman, ranked No. 69, has never been past the second round at a Slam in nine tries. In three, the former champ advances.
First-round play continues on Day 2 of the 2016 US Open, as a host of tennis’ top names take to the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Women’s top seed Serena Williams leads the day’s lineup of luminaries, especially eager to take the first step in her latest pursuit of history. Other top women seeing first-round action Tuesday include fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanksa, No. 5 seed Simona Halep, sixth seed Venus Williams and 2011 US Open champ Samantha Stosur. Leading men in the drama include second-seeded Andy Murray, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, No. 6 Kei Nishikori, 2009 US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro, No. 8 Dominic Thiem and Americans Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson and Donald Young. With so much on the line, and so much talent between the lines, Day 2 promises to be one to remember.
Last year at this time, Serena Williams came to the Open in hot pursuit of the game’s ultimate prize—the Grand Slam. A surprising semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci halted that quest, but the women’s No. 1 is back this year on the brink of another historic breakthrough, as a win here would give her 23 career Slam singles crowns, untying her from Steffi Graf for most major wins in the Open era.
It’s been a rather un-Serena like season for Williams, who, despite reaching finals at each of the year’s first three Slams, has left just one—Wimbledon—with the champion’s trophy. In fact, the women’s game’s No. 1 has won just two titles this year, adding a win on clay in Rome to her Wimbledon triumph. A troublesome shoulder has limited her play this summer; since her roll over the lawns of London, Williams, 34, has played just three matches, the defending women’s singles gold medalist losing in the third round at the Rio Olympics to Elina Svitolina.
It’s still tough to pick against the six-time US Open champ, but her first step toward history might be a tricky one, as she takes on Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, an aggressive slugger who’s very comfortable on the hard courts of the Open. A semifinalist here in 2014, the 28-year-old Russian reached that same stage at the 2015 Australian and, at the recent Rio Games, paired with Elena Vesnina to win gold in doubles. Williams owns a 4-1 career edge over Makarova and has beaten the Russian both times they’ve met here. This figures as an interesting first-rounder—likely more interesting than the top-seed would prefer. This goes three, but the top seed goes on.
Serena’s older sister Venus Williams has experienced something of a resurgence this year, turning back the clock and turning more than a few heads in the process. Venus, now 36, comes into the Open ranked No. 6, her highest ranking in more than five years. The two-time US Open champ reached the semis of Wimbledon this summer, then backed that up with a run to the final at the Stanford stop on the Emirates Airline US Open Series. Williams is 68-14 career here in Flushing and ought to be able to add to that win total, as she takes on Kateryna Kozlova, a 22-year-old from Ukraine, who is playing in just her third career main draw at a major. She’s 0-2 in her two prior appearances. Kozlova’s best performance this year was a semifinal showing on clay in Istanbul. The two women have never met, and their inaugural encounter figures to be a brief one. In two, Venus advances.
It’s probably not fair to use a word like “resurgence” when you’re talking about Murray, the men’s second seed, since he’s been a fixture at the top of the men’s game for years. But the 2012 US Open champ has sizzled from the start of this year and looks very much like a guy who’s tired of being No. 2. Murray has taken four singles titles this year, including his third Slam singles crown at Wimbledon in July. On top of that, the great Scot captured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games and reached the final at both the Aussie Open and Roland Garros. As great as Murray is, he is somehow able to continually improve, clearly committed to narrowing the gap between himself and men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Reuniting with coach Ivan Lendl just prior to Wimbledon, Murray seems more able than ever to channel the steely concentration that was the trademark of his mentor through the tightest spots in the biggest matches. Murray, 29, loves the hard courts of New York and starts his quest for a second US Open crown against 31-year-old Czech Lukas Rosol, who’s never been past the second round here in five previous tries. Rosol’s best finish this year was a run to the semis at the clay-court event in Geneva. The No. 2 seed is 2-0 against the Czech in career matchups, but Rosol has tested him each time, taking a set from Murray in each of the clashes. Still, under the lights on the big stage of Ashe, the former champ figures as the current favorite. In three, Murray is on to round two.
One of the genuine feel-good stories of the year is the return of del Potro as a serious challenger in the men’s game. The 2009 US Open champ has never been back to a Grand Slam final since then, as a pair of serious wrist injuries has taken him off the court for lengthy stretches, prevented him from finding the form that lifted him as high as No. 4 in the world in 2010. But this summer, the popular Argentine reached the semis in Stuttgart, knocked out Wawrinka at Wimbledon and beat both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in winning a silver medal at the Olympics. Today, the 27-year-old, playing this year’s Open as a wild card, looks to again find his feet in Flushing, starting his campaign against his countryman Diego Schwartzman, a 24-year-old baseliner who this year won his first career singles title at the clay-court Istanbul event. Schwartzman, ranked No. 69, has never been past the second round at a Slam in nine tries. In three, the former champ advances.
#1 seeded American
Serena Williams takes on Ekaterina Makarova.....Good luck Serena!
#3 seed Stan the Man takes on Fernando Verdasco.
#2 seed Andy Murray is in action against Lukas Rosol.
The #5 seed Simona Halep battles Kirsten Flipkens.
#6 seed Kei Nishikori has a tough match against Benjamin Becker.
Pretty lady Eugenie Bouchard goes up against Katerina Siniakova.
Day 2 picks and analysis from McCarton Ackerman.
MEN
(2) Andy Murray vs. Lukas Rosol
The world No. 2 went viral in his most recent match against Rosol in May 2015 after shouting some choice words across to the net to his opponent, but he insists its water under the bridge now. The veteran Czech hasn’t beaten Murray in their two previous meetings, but he has taken a set each time and has the type of off-speed game that typically frustrates the Brit. But the 2012 US Open champion is playing the best tennis of his career and knows what it takes to win in New York. Murray struggles early on but wins in four sets.
(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. Fernando Verdasco
Wawrinka received one of the most difficult opening rounds in Verdasco, a former Top 10 player who has twice reached the US Open quarterfinals. Verdasco also leads their head-to-head 3-2 and defeated Wawrinka in their most recent meeting, a straight-sets win this June at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. Although Wawrinka has enjoyed great success at the US Open in years past, he’s had a relatively quiet season and hasn’t beaten a Top 15 player yet in 2016. Verdasco for the upset in five sets.
(29) Sam Querrey vs. Janko Tipsarevic
Querrey became an overnight sensation this Wimbledon with his shocking third-round upset over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The laid-back American is enjoying his best season in several years, winning his first ATP World Tour title in four years in Delray Beach and breaking through with his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Former World No. 8 Tipsarevic returned to the tour in April after sitting out eight months with right knee patella tendonitis. Although he took a small step forward this month by winning a Challenger in China, he’s not ready to be defeating Top 30 players just yet. Querrey in three sets.
(WC) Juan Martin del Potro vs. Diego Schwartzman
Del Potro will always be a sentimental favorite at the US Open, but he’s now a legitimate contender for the title after his silver medal run at the Rio Olympics, where he ousted Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on his way to the final. Fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman is a clay-court expert, but his more defensive game will be quickly exposed by del Potro on the hard courts of New York. Del Potro in three sets.
WOMEN
(1) Serena Williams vs. Ekaterina Makarova
The world No. 1 comes in as a heavy favorite to win her seventh US Open title, but arrives short on match practice and dealing with a shoulder injury. Makarova is the last player anyone would want to face under those circumstances. The veteran Russian tracks down every ball and forces players to hit multiple shots just to win a point. She reached the US Open semifinals in 2014 and hasn’t lost before the second week of a hard-court major since the 2012 Australian Open. Williams lead their head-to-head by 4-1. Although Makarova’s lone victory came at a major, in the 2012 Australian Open, the 22-time Slam champ has won both of their US Open matches, defeating the left-hander in straight sets in 2012 and 2014. Although Williams will be far from her best, her determination and the crowd will carry her through to the second round. Williams in three sets.
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (Q) Jessica Pegula
Radwanska has a game that’s suited for hard courts, but the US Open is the lone Grand Slam in which she hasn’t reached the quarterfinals. Although she’s prone to upsets, it won’t happen against Pegula, a talented qualifier who is still green when it comes to performing on the world’s biggest stages. Radwanska in two sets.
(5) Simona Halep vs. Kirsten Flipkens
Flipkens is riding on a confidence high after defeating Venus Williams in the opening round of the Rio Olympics. Having reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2014, she clearly thrives on the big stages at the most important tournaments. Halep possesses a similar counterpunching game to Flipkens, yet can hit winners more easily and possesses better footspeed. The Romanian has won all four of their previous meetings without dropping a set and the trend will continue here. Halep in two sets.
(6) Venus Williams vs. (Q) Kateryna Kozlova
Venus is enjoying a career resurgence this season; she hasn’t been ranked this high in five years. The 22-year-old Kozlova has seen her ranking jump more than 80 places since February to its current standing of No. 93. Her best results have come on faster surfaces and she’s sure to produce a few big winners, but defeating a Top 10 player isn’t a jump the Ukranian is ready to make yet. Williams in two sets.
(MATT CRONIN'S PICK OF THE DAY)
(1) Serena Williams vs. Ekaterina Makarova
This should be a fascinating matchup, as the Russian has reached the Top 10 before and was in the US Open in the semis two years ago. Makarova is very tall and aggressive, but she can go in and out.
In 2012, in the Australian Open fourth round, Serena was mentally out of it and Makarova kept pushing, winning, 6-2, 6-3. The two met each other at the 2014 US Open, with Serena knocking back the Russian, 6-4 6-0.
Serena owns 22 majors, having won Wimbledon in July. There has been a tremendous pressure, and while she has lost here and there, she has won so many times that on court it is rare that she gets nervous. At the 2015 US Open, she was tired, she was concerned that she might have to reach the final in an attempt to win all four majors, so in the semis, she bowed out, losing against Roberta Vinci.
Afterward, she decided not to play this year so she could heal. And she did, but in 2016, she has been pretty close, but not fantastic, as she was unable to win the Aussie Open and Roland Garros.
However, at Wimbledon, the tide turned. Her first and second serves were legendary, her two strokes were vicious, and she was very, very smart. Now, at the US Open, she is ready to pass Steffi Graf at 22 majors, very close to tying with Margaret Court, who won a record 24 of those titles. Maybe the 34-year-old Serena will wait until she has a legitimate chance to win a couple Grand Slams, and maybe, just maybe, she can retire with 25 majors. The king.
Serena can out hit Makarova on court. Both of them are very powerful, but Serena has a lot more variety and skill. The American will win in two sets, but good sets.
MEN
(2) Andy Murray vs. Lukas Rosol
The world No. 2 went viral in his most recent match against Rosol in May 2015 after shouting some choice words across to the net to his opponent, but he insists its water under the bridge now. The veteran Czech hasn’t beaten Murray in their two previous meetings, but he has taken a set each time and has the type of off-speed game that typically frustrates the Brit. But the 2012 US Open champion is playing the best tennis of his career and knows what it takes to win in New York. Murray struggles early on but wins in four sets.
(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. Fernando Verdasco
Wawrinka received one of the most difficult opening rounds in Verdasco, a former Top 10 player who has twice reached the US Open quarterfinals. Verdasco also leads their head-to-head 3-2 and defeated Wawrinka in their most recent meeting, a straight-sets win this June at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. Although Wawrinka has enjoyed great success at the US Open in years past, he’s had a relatively quiet season and hasn’t beaten a Top 15 player yet in 2016. Verdasco for the upset in five sets.
(29) Sam Querrey vs. Janko Tipsarevic
Querrey became an overnight sensation this Wimbledon with his shocking third-round upset over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The laid-back American is enjoying his best season in several years, winning his first ATP World Tour title in four years in Delray Beach and breaking through with his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Former World No. 8 Tipsarevic returned to the tour in April after sitting out eight months with right knee patella tendonitis. Although he took a small step forward this month by winning a Challenger in China, he’s not ready to be defeating Top 30 players just yet. Querrey in three sets.
(WC) Juan Martin del Potro vs. Diego Schwartzman
Del Potro will always be a sentimental favorite at the US Open, but he’s now a legitimate contender for the title after his silver medal run at the Rio Olympics, where he ousted Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on his way to the final. Fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman is a clay-court expert, but his more defensive game will be quickly exposed by del Potro on the hard courts of New York. Del Potro in three sets.
WOMEN
(1) Serena Williams vs. Ekaterina Makarova
The world No. 1 comes in as a heavy favorite to win her seventh US Open title, but arrives short on match practice and dealing with a shoulder injury. Makarova is the last player anyone would want to face under those circumstances. The veteran Russian tracks down every ball and forces players to hit multiple shots just to win a point. She reached the US Open semifinals in 2014 and hasn’t lost before the second week of a hard-court major since the 2012 Australian Open. Williams lead their head-to-head by 4-1. Although Makarova’s lone victory came at a major, in the 2012 Australian Open, the 22-time Slam champ has won both of their US Open matches, defeating the left-hander in straight sets in 2012 and 2014. Although Williams will be far from her best, her determination and the crowd will carry her through to the second round. Williams in three sets.
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (Q) Jessica Pegula
Radwanska has a game that’s suited for hard courts, but the US Open is the lone Grand Slam in which she hasn’t reached the quarterfinals. Although she’s prone to upsets, it won’t happen against Pegula, a talented qualifier who is still green when it comes to performing on the world’s biggest stages. Radwanska in two sets.
(5) Simona Halep vs. Kirsten Flipkens
Flipkens is riding on a confidence high after defeating Venus Williams in the opening round of the Rio Olympics. Having reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2014, she clearly thrives on the big stages at the most important tournaments. Halep possesses a similar counterpunching game to Flipkens, yet can hit winners more easily and possesses better footspeed. The Romanian has won all four of their previous meetings without dropping a set and the trend will continue here. Halep in two sets.
(6) Venus Williams vs. (Q) Kateryna Kozlova
Venus is enjoying a career resurgence this season; she hasn’t been ranked this high in five years. The 22-year-old Kozlova has seen her ranking jump more than 80 places since February to its current standing of No. 93. Her best results have come on faster surfaces and she’s sure to produce a few big winners, but defeating a Top 10 player isn’t a jump the Ukranian is ready to make yet. Williams in two sets.
(MATT CRONIN'S PICK OF THE DAY)
(1) Serena Williams vs. Ekaterina Makarova
This should be a fascinating matchup, as the Russian has reached the Top 10 before and was in the US Open in the semis two years ago. Makarova is very tall and aggressive, but she can go in and out.
In 2012, in the Australian Open fourth round, Serena was mentally out of it and Makarova kept pushing, winning, 6-2, 6-3. The two met each other at the 2014 US Open, with Serena knocking back the Russian, 6-4 6-0.
Serena owns 22 majors, having won Wimbledon in July. There has been a tremendous pressure, and while she has lost here and there, she has won so many times that on court it is rare that she gets nervous. At the 2015 US Open, she was tired, she was concerned that she might have to reach the final in an attempt to win all four majors, so in the semis, she bowed out, losing against Roberta Vinci.
Afterward, she decided not to play this year so she could heal. And she did, but in 2016, she has been pretty close, but not fantastic, as she was unable to win the Aussie Open and Roland Garros.
However, at Wimbledon, the tide turned. Her first and second serves were legendary, her two strokes were vicious, and she was very, very smart. Now, at the US Open, she is ready to pass Steffi Graf at 22 majors, very close to tying with Margaret Court, who won a record 24 of those titles. Maybe the 34-year-old Serena will wait until she has a legitimate chance to win a couple Grand Slams, and maybe, just maybe, she can retire with 25 majors. The king.
Serena can out hit Makarova on court. Both of them are very powerful, but Serena has a lot more variety and skill. The American will win in two sets, but good sets.
1st match of the day is in the books.....No.5 seed Simona Halep cruises into R2 with 6-0 6-2 win over Flipkens.....Congrats!
Serena Williams note.....If you're expecting an upset, keep in mind she is 63-1 in opening round matches at Grand Slams, the second-best record by any woman in the Open Era (min. 25 matches) behind Chris Evert, who was 56-0 in the opening round of majors in her career.
Serena's only opening round loss at a Grand Slam came at the 2012 French Open against Virginie Razzano.
Serena's only opening round loss at a Grand Slam came at the 2012 French Open against Virginie Razzano.
#29 Ana Ivanovic is shown the 1st round door.....She`s beaten by Danisa Allertova...7-6...6-1
Kei takes care of business in 4 sets......He takes down Benjamin Becker...6-1...6-1...3-6...6-3
