World-class tennis makes its return tonight, albeit without all of its shining stars like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, which leaves the door open for Novak Djokovic to chip away at Federer’s record 20 Grand Slam victories, just 3 behind the Swiss Maestro, and 2 behind Nadal in 2nd.
The 33-year-old Serbian is the favourite heading into the fixture, though all eyes will be on 134th ranked Andy Murray, after the 33-year-old Murray knocked 5th seed Alexander Zverev out of the Western & Southern Open in the second round last week.
Murray claims to be without pain going into a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2017 edition of Roland Garros.
“I’m not as quick probably as I was before, but I’m able to go out there and compete and focus on the tennis. Hopefully [I will] be able to last a five-set match without my performance seriously deteriorating as it goes on,” Murray said. “It’s been tough to get to this point, a lot of hard work, lots of ups and downs. But I made it back.”
For South African, Kevin Anderson, he’ll have to be on his game from the get-go. The former US Open finalist is presently ranked 124 in the world and will be on show on centre court against 5th seed Alexander Zverev.
Alexander Zverev leads Kevin Anderson in their head-to-head meetings by a margin of 5-0 which clearly suggests that the German enjoys this match-up. The pair last met at 2018 Laver Cup where Zverev pulled out all stops in an entertaining, close match to beat the towering Anderson in three sets.
US-Open First Round:
Monday:
Men’s Singles
9th seed Diego Schwartzman (ARG) vs Cameron Norrie (GBR) – 17:00
5th seed Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Kevin Anderson (RSA) – 19:15
4th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRC) vs Albert Ramos Vinolas (ESP) – 19:30
7th seed David Goffin (BEL) vs Reilly Opelka (USA) – 22:45
Lloyd Harris (RSA) vs Marco Cecchinato (ITA) – 22:45
Woman’s Singles
1st seed Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) – 18:00
6th seed Irina-Camelia Begu (CZE) vs Perta Kvitova (ROU) – 18:15
8th seed Petra Martic (HRV) vs Tereza Martincova (CZE) – 21:00
Tuesday
Men’s Singles
1st seed Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH) – 01:00
Andy Murray (GBR) vs Yoshihito Nishioka (JAP) – 18:00
2nd seed Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs Jaume Munar (ESP) – 18:15
10th seed Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – 18:15
8th seed Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Tennys Sandgren (USA) – 20:15
6th seed Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs Go Soeda (JAP) – 23:30
Woman’s Singles
4th seed Naomi Osaka (JAP) vs Misaki Doi (JAP) – 03:00
10th seed Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs Nao Hinibo (JAP) – 17:00
9th seed Johanna Konta (GBR) vs Heather Watson (GBR) – 18:15
3rd seed Serena Williams (USA) vs Kristie Ahn (USA) – 20:00
2nd seed Sodia Kenin (USA) vs Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) – 20:15
5th seed Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs Ocean Dodin (FRA) – 22:15
7th seed Madison Keys (USA) vs Timea Babos (HUN) – 23:00
Wednesday
Men’s Singles
3rd seed Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs Federico Delbonis (ARG) – 02:15
