Matt Cronin’s Day 1 Picks

7-RAFAEL NADAL VS. BORNA CORIC
     
Without a doubt, Nadal has been struggling against the best players this year, but the 14-time Grand Slam singles champion will undoubtedly play great again at some point, and that could occur at the US Open. Nadal has not been very aggressive this season; at times he seems unsure of himself. But the 29-year-old is very smart and knows that in order to take down the big boys, he has to take more risks.

Nadal has won the US Open twice, in 2010 and 2013, so we know that when he is on, he is capable of winning the title. The left-hander has countless attributes. He can crush his forehand, he is super-fast, his backhand is super-steady, his first serve can twist wickedly, and he is very efficient around the net.  Plus, his body is extremely strong, and he never gives up.
 
Nadal missed last year’s Open with an injury. This year, his sore body is feeling better, but he has been anxious, which is why he has been unable to reach the semifinals at the majors – almost unheard of for the Spaniard.
 
That’s why the 18-year-old Borna Coric has a legitimate chance to stun Nadal. The Croat is already in the top 35, which is very rare for a teenager these days, but Coric is a very aggressive player who can crack the ball off both wings, and he loves to go up against the well-known veterans. He can be up and down and isn’t always real sure how he should be playing, but he keeps learning all the time, and he is progressing. He is too young to win the US Open yet, but the 6-foot-1 Coric will be there for a very long time.
 
In October 2014, Coric beat Nadal, 6-2, 7-6, in the quarterfinals of Basel. The Croat played very well, but Nadal was just coming back and wasn’t in top form. While Nadal was hitting too short when he went down in Montreal and Cincinnati, he realizes that right now, he can’t just be hopeful, he has to earn it. The Spaniard will do so, yanking the speedy Coric and triumph in four sets.     
 
 
22-VENUS WILLIAMS VS. MONICA PUIG
 
The entire world is talking about Serena Williams, who has won four straight Grand Slam singles titles and is the clear favorite to win the US Open once again. But what about her older sister Venus, who won two titles back to back at the US Open in 2000 and 2001 and who looked like she could win multiple Open titles? Unfortunately, Venus was unable to do so, but she has come pretty close and has competed in some of the tournament’s most spectacular contests.
 
Clearly, the 34-year-old Venus never gives in, and now,  Williams is hoping that this time around, when she is facing an opponent deep in the third set, she will lock in and not waver.
 
That could occur against Monica Puig, the Puerto Rican who loves the big stadium. The 21-year-old made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2013 and seemed ready to rise up quickly, but she is now ranked No. 85, and she has really struggled this year.

Puig is very quick and she can jump on the returns, but she isn’t hitting deep enough and that really hurts her.

Let’s assume they will do exactly what they plan, they will go toe-to-toe, they will be tied 5-5 in the third-set tiebreak, and the winner will crack two huge backhands on the baseline to win it: that will be Venus in another phenomenal contest.
 
4-KEI NISHIKORI VS. BENOIT PAIRE
 
Last year, Nishikori reached the final at the US Open, and he was spectacular – until the final. He was leaping around, playing super aggressive, and he refused to break down, knocking off Milos Raonic in five sets, taking down Stan Wawrinka in another terrific five sets, and shocking Novak Djokovic in four sets in the semifinals. But in the final, he was a little bit off; he later said that he was tired and he couldn't jump on his returns, going down against Marin Cilic in straight quick sets.
 
The current No. 4 has been saying all year that he is ready to win a major now, but if he is going to, he has to stay healthy, which has been problematic. Without a doubt, he has improved since the start of 2014, and even now, when he gets on court, he is always moving forward and can dominate off both wings. But the Japanese had to pull out of Wimbledon due to an injury. In Montreal, he looked terrific in blasting Rafa Nadal, but the next day, he was playing against Andy Murray, and by the second set, he was pooped. A couple of days later, he pulled out of Cincinnati  because he was hurt again.
 
Nishikori can go very far at this tournament, but he has to be confident that his body will hold up. Moreover, if he is going to win the event, he must start out fast.  

He will have a tricky contest against Benoit Paire, the 26-year-old Frenchman who has played a ton this year, trying to get back to where he belongs. He essentially has, starting the season ranked No. 135 and working his way up to No. 41, which is pretty impressive. He has a fair amount of variety, but he loves the clay, and at times, he doesn't sting the balls on the fast hard courts. Paire will play ambitiously and make sure that Nishikori will have to run around a lot, but in the end, the 2014 US Open finalist will get through in four sets.