DJOKOVIC, MURRAY HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT U.S. OPEN BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 23rd August 2014

DJOKOVIC, MURRAY HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT U.S. OPEN BY RICKY DIMON |

Photo by Francisco Resendiz

The U.S. Open gets underway on Monday and what should be hot start will feature Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Stan Wawrinka. Among those also kicking off their fortnights are Canadians Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil plus Toronto champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Here’s a look at some of opening day’s marquee matchups:

(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. Jiri Vesely: Since winning the Australian Open, Wawrinka has posted very Wawrinka-like results; some great (Monte-Carlo title), some awful (Roland Garros first round), and plenty in between (Indian Wells and Miami fourth rounds). Still, he is the reigning Aussie champion and No. 3 seed and that’s why he is getting the Arthur Ashe treatment.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Diego Schwartzman: Talk about getting thrown into the fire in Grand Slams. In his major main-draw debut at this year’s French Open, Schwartzman lost to Roger Federer in the second round. Now the 22-year-old Argentine has to go up against Djokovic right away in New York.

Robin Haase vs. (8) Andy Murray: The last time Murray and Haase faced each other at the U.S. Open it was a borderline disaster, albeit a thriller. It was more than a disaster for Haase, who blew a two-set lead in a 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 loss. They will once again square off on Louis Armstrong court. Deja vu?

(Q) Taro Daniel vs. (5) Milos Raonic: Daniel will get the Louis Armstrong treatment since he is 25 percent American. Wait, nevermind; he’s on a show court because he is facing world No. 6 Raonic.

(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Juan Monaco: Monaco is a shadow or his former self. Tsonga had been a shadow of his former self for much of 2014 before capturing the Toronto title from just about out of nowhere, upsetting four top-10 opponents along the way (including Djokovic and Roger Federer). Advantage: Tsonga.

Blaz Kavcic vs. Donald Young: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez has been the difference between a very good last three months and a great last three months for Young (the American lost to GGL in final sets at the French Open and in Winston-Salem). Still, based on current form this is Young’s best chance to make a second career trip to the U.S. Open fourth round.

(21) Mikhail Youzhny vs. Nick Kyrgios: Kyrgios first made news this summer by stunning Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. Then he made news with a unique ice-bucket challenge that involved very little water and ice and a whole lot of Marinko Matosevic. Youzhny has not made much news in 2014, but he often plays his best in New York.

Simone Bolelli vs. Vasek Pospisil: Bolelli is in the midst of a resurgence from a slump that lasted several years. He has been past the first round of two straight Grand Slams having previously not reached a second round since Wimbledon in 2011. Pospisil is in the midst of a resurgence from an injury-plagued first few months of 2014.

Benoit Paire vs. (24) Julien Benneteau: Generally when Benoit Paire takes the court, it is safe to assume that some kind of fireworks ensure. Either he will get into it with his opponent or get into it with himself. Will a match against a fellow Frenchman, however, be incident-free? Only time will tell.

James McGee vs. Aleksandr Nedovyesov: If you haven’t seen McGee’s celebration–or more like reaction–after qualifying for the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, check it out. That’s what it is all about right there. And the 27-year-old Dublin, Ireland native has a decent chance to keep his run going into the second round.

(31) Fernando Verdasco vs. Blaz Rola: This is the only lefty vs. lefty matchup in the first round. And wouldn’t you know it; the winner may end up against fellow southpaw Bradley Klahn in the second round.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Donald Young, Fernando Verdasco, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau, Mikhail Youzhny, milos raonic, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Robin Haase, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Vasek Pospisil

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

August 23, 2014 at 8:03 pm

@DjokerNole, @andy_murray HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/hrD57C7jS9 #tennis #USOpen #USO14
maye4life says:

August 23, 2014 at 8:21 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @DjokerNole, @andy_murray HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/hrD57C7jS9 #tennis …
maye4life says:

August 23, 2014 at 8:21 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @DjokerNole, @andy_murray HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/hrD57C7jS9 #tennis …
RD_Tennistalk says:

August 24, 2014 at 7:25 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @DjokerNole, @andy_murray HEADLINE MONDAY FIRST-ROUND SLATE AT @usopen BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/hrD57C7jS9 #tennis …