By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday August 26, 2024

 

Day 2 of the 2024 US Open will see both World No.1's take the court in Ashe, and that's not all. Read on to find out what we'll be watching.

Photo Source: Getty

Day 2 of the US Open will see a trio of Grand Slam champions on Ashe, as well as a battle of former major champions on Armstrong. And that barely scratches the surface. Scroll down to find out what we’ll be watching.



Osaka v Ostapenko!!!!

It will be a battle of former major champions in one of the most heavily anticipated opening round matchups of this year’s US Open. Two-time champ Naomi Osaka nearly pulled the shocker of Roland-Garros, when she earned a match point against eventual champion Iga Swiatek in Paris earlier this spring. She couldn’t seal the deal but Osaka will be looking to score a big win over No.10-seeded Jelena Ostapenko in their second career meeting and first since 2016 (won by Osaka).

Ranked 85, Osaka carries a 22-5 US Open record into the showdown. She last won the title in Flushing in 2020. Ostapenko, meanwhile, upset top-seeded Swiatek en route to the quarterfinals last year.



Sinner and Alcaraz on Ashe

It's an embarrassment of riches on Arthur Ashe Stadium tomorrow. And if it's the future of men's tennis you are interested, you can take your pick.

We have Jannik Sinner in the day session on Arthur Ashe, as the Italian looks to put the focus on his tennis with a first-round clash with American Mackenzie McDonald. It will probably be a relief for the World No.1 and top seed to play some tennis after dealing with the media for the last few days. All anybody could talk about last week was news of Sinner’s two positive doping tests, his provisional suspensions and details of the case that saw him avoid suspension while receiving a mininal punishment.

Sinner, who has never been beyond the quarterfinals, is 10-5 lifetime at the Open.

If it’s night tennis you crave, check out No.2 seeded Carlos Alcaraz. The 2022 US Open champion seeks to stretch his Grand Slam match winning streak to 15 and he’ll get started with a first-round tilt with Australian qualifier Li Tu.

Alcaraz, the oddsmaker’s favorite to win it all in Queens, carries a 16-2 lifetime record at the Open, and a 59-10 record at the majors – not bad.



Popcorn ALERT 🍿

It’s difficult to steer people in the direction of one or two matches on Day 2. Instead, we recommend you keep an eye on scores and gravitate to the matches that are heating up. There will be many. Want some ideas?

How about the fourth clash on Grandstand, which features 2021 champion Emma Raducanu and 2020 Australian Open Sofia Kenin. Quite the unseeded battle… or the first match on Armstrong between soon to be retired Danielle Collins and Caroline Dolehide. The support for Collins should be special, as the former World No.7 commences her final US Open appearance.

Over on intimate – and oftentimes rowdy – Court 17, fans can get a glimpse former champion Stan Wawrinka, who faces Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci. Wawrinka, the 2016 champion in New York, is the oldest player in the draw at 39.

Two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki is also slated to play on Court 17 – the Great Dane will face Japanese qualifier Nao Hibino in the second match.