By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 30, 2015
"I am having the worst season in my past 11 years, but I still think I can be a dangerous player," says Rafael Nadal.
Photo credit: USTA/US Open
NEW YORK—On each day of the US Open we will preview the best matches to watch, plus provide notes and numbers to keep you well-equipped for the day ahead.
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SEE THE COMPLETE DAY 1 SCHEDULE HERE
1. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs. (7) Ana Ivanovic (SRB), 1st Match Arthur Ashe Stadium
The schedule might just make you blink because typically these two would meet in the latter stages of majors. Injury-induced inactivity caused Cibulkova, who underwent surgery on her left heel earlier this year, to drop in the rankings. The 2014 Australian Open finalist returned to tournament tennis in June, beating French Open finalist Lucie Safarova in her first event back.
Ivanovic owns a 12-8 hard-court record this season with her best result a runner-up appearance in Brisbane back in January, but she has reached successive quarterfinals in Toronto and Cincinnati, losing to the eventual champion in both events.
The forecast calls for sunny, scalding conditions on opening day. Ivanovic's wayward service toss can be an issue, particularly when she's squinting into the sun though since this match is on Ashe Stadium the new roof could provide some protection from the sun. Both women will try to play first-strike tennis and dictate with the forehand, both are aggressive returners and both can be suspect on second serve.
2. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) vs. (29) Sloane Stephens (USA), 3rd Match Louis Armstrong Stadium
An all-American clash of women who have both delivered major moments in Grand Slams—and often struggled to produce their best tennis in Flushing Meadows—could be an explosive match of contrasting styles. Vandeweghe has used her power to thwart Stephens' speed winning two of their three prior encounters.
The 45th-ranked Vandeweghe has a strong city connection. CoCo was born in New York City, her uncle Kiki played for the New York Knicks and she won the 2008 US Open Girls' championship without surrendering a set. The 6-foot-1 Vandeweghe can crack her first serve, hit the second with heavy kick and knows how to close at net. But she's wildly erratic, has won just three US Open matches in her career failing to survive the first round three times in six appearances. Since her run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Vandeweghe sputtered through the North American summer hard-court season with a 1-4 mark.
Stephens has the skills to be a big threat here, but she's shrunk on the New York stage previously, playing passive tennis and surpassing the third round just once here. Stephens is more consistent, quicker around the court and she's playing better tennis beating 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur en route to her first career title in Washington, DC earlier this month.
3. Borna Coric (CRO) vs. (8) Rafael Nadal (ESP), 2nd Night Match Arthur Ashe Stadium
A former US Open champion versus a possible future champion provides opening-night intrigue.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has practiced with Coric and concluded the 2013 US Open Boys' champion reminds him of someone special: Djokovic himself. The 18-year-old from Zagreb is a smooth mover, owns a sound all-around game, his two-handed backhand is a weapon and he narrowly missed being seeded here. Coric upset Nadal in Basel last fall and routed No. 3 Andy Murray en route to the Dubai quarterfinals in February. The 35th-ranked Coric must hold his nerve and his ground near the baseline, occasionally crack his two-hander up the line and be willing to play to Nadal's lefty forehand early in rallies to try to spread the court.
Though he concedes struggling with his confidence, Nadal will be eager returning to New York for the first time since he won the 2013 Open. He has reached the final in his last three US Open appearances. Since his run to the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, Nadal has produced a mediocre 7-4 hard-court record. However, he knows the threat Coric poses, will not take the Croatian challenger lightly and should come out playing with energy. Nadal's backhand and second serve can land shallow in the court when he's lacking confidence, but he will be intent on a fast start and he's a massive fan favorite in New York.
By the Numbers
$39,500 Prize money for contesting the US Open singles first round.
9 Active Grand Slam champions in the women's singles field: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Petra Kvitova, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur.
10 Ranking points earned for playing the first round.
10 Teenagers in the men's field — most in 25 years.
.875 Rafael Nadal's winning percentage in Grand Slam matches (196-28 record), which is second on the all-time list to Bjorn Borg (.898 percentage, 141-16 record).