By Chris Oddo | Sunday August 26, 2018
Keeping up with the game of tennis, by the numbers. Each day at Tennis Now we’ll give you a fresh set—without any further ado, here’s what the numbers say prior to Day 1 of the 2018 U.S. Open.
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6
Number of wins that David Ferrer has earned against Rafael Nadal, which is tied for fourth-most in history against the venerable Nadal. Ferrer will begin his last U.S. Open with a first-round encounter with Nadal. Nadal holds the 24-6 lifetime edge but Ferrer, a two-time semifinalist in New York, did take their only meeting at the U.S. Open in 2007. Novak Djokovic (27), Roger Federer (15) and Andy Murray (7) are the only three players that have earned more than six victories against Nadal (Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko also had six wins over Nadal).
28-4
Simona Halep’s record on hardcourts this season. The World No.1 will begin her 2018 U.S. Open first up on the New Armstrong Stadium when she faces Kaia Kanepi in round one. Halep is assured of hanging on to the No.1 ranking after the U.S. Open no matter what result she achieves in New York.
Kanepi could be a tough test. The Estonian reached the quarters in New York last year as a qualifier and is a two-time U.S. Open quarterfinalist.
830
Combined ranking of Andy Murray (382) and his first-round opponent James Duckworth (448). Both players are entered on a protected ranking this year. Duckworth underwent right foot and elbow surgeries after the Australian Open, while Murray underwent hip surgery after Australia. They are meeting for the first time.
0
The number of times the top seed has lost in the first round on the women’s side at the U.S. Open. It has happened five times in the Open Era in the other three majors. Simona Halep will bid to ensure it doesn’t happen tomorrow against Kaia Kanepi.
1
Rafael Nadal will retain the No.1 ranking after the U.S. Open unless he fails to reach the semifinals AND Federer wins the title.
Federer will begin his 2018 U.S. Open on Tuesday when he faces Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
4
The number of times that the top seed has won the title on the women’s side at the U.S. Open since 2000. Serena Williams (2002, 2013, 2014) won three of those times. Justine Henin (2007) was the other top seed to win the women’s singles title.