WOMEN
(2) Simona Halep vs. Maria Sharapova
Were she in full form, Sharapova would be the favorite here. She is 6-0 all-time against Halep, and traditionally the Romanian has struggled against big hitters, as evidenced by her 6-1, 6-0 loss to Garbiñe Muguruza in the Cincinnati final. But Sharapova has played precious few matches over the last two years. The 2006 US Open champion returned from her 15-month ITF suspension in April by reaching the semifinals in Stuttgart, but she has struggled with injuries ever since. She retired during her second-round match in Rome, withdrew prior to her second-round encounter in Stanford and pulled out of Toronto and Cincinnati. That means she has played just one match since May, hardly a recipe for success against one of the sport’s most dogged competitors. On talent alone, Sharapova takes a set, but the fitter Halep will prevail in three.
(9) Venus Williams vs. Viktoria Kuzmova
It was 20 years ago that Venus Williams made her first appearance at the US Open and stormed to the final, becoming the first unseeded player to do so in the Open era. In 2017, she reprises her now familiar role of elder statesman, again facing a player who was not yet born when she made her debut. The 19-year-old Kuzmova is a talented up-and-comer who won three matches in qualifying to earn her spot in the main draw. She has enjoyed success this year on the ITF Pro Circuit but has never played on a stage like Arthur Ashe Stadium, much less in front of a partisan crowd. Expect her to settle in and make a match of it, but Venus prevails in two.
Sloane Stephens vs. Roberta Vinci
This figures to be one of the most entertaining matchups of the day, a showdown between two talented shot-makers, matching Stephens’ wheels against Vinci’s guile. The Italian is just two years removed from her run to the final here, but her results have been uneven in 2017. Stephens, meantime, was sidelined for nine months with a foot injury, just returning this summer. She came back strong, however, advancing to the semifinals at both Toronto and Cincinnati. That many matches after a long layoff could catch up with Stephens in the long run, but she is the player in finer form heading into this match and will prevail in straight sets.
MEN
Denis Shapovalov vs. Daniil Medvedev
This battle of rising stars has everything you could ask for in a first-round match: fierce hitting, lively personalities and emphatic shot-making. Shapovalov drew large crowds all throughout the qualifying tournament, and he will likely fill Court 7 on Day 1. Medvedev has the edge on paper when it comes to rankings – he is No. 53 compared with Shapovalov, who jumped 76 spots to No. 67 two weeks ago – but few players are riding hotter streaks right now that the Canadian, who upset Rafael Nadal on the way to the Rogers Cup semifinals. Shapovalov in four.
Darian King vs. (4) Alexander Zverev
King will make history Monday night when he becomes the first Barbadian-born player to play a US Open match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. King dropped just one set to advance through qualifying this week, but his stay in Flushing is expected to be short-lived. The 25-year-old plays No. 4 Alexander Zverev, who is a legitimate title contender in a men’s draw that’s missing five of the top 11 players due to injury. There aren’t too many obstacles standing in the German’s way of the second week, and he should roll past King in three comfortable sets.
(13) Jack Sock vs. Jordan Thompson
Sock will round out the first day of play inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, the third of three Americans in action in the temporary structure. Sock plays to the New York crowd as well as any American, and his crunching forehand is one of tennis’ best weapons. Thompson will be playing in New York for just the second time in his career and for the 10th time at a major. He’s 2-7 in his previous nine Grand Slam appearances, but he did win his only previous matchup against the No. 13 seed, when the U.S. played Australia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals earlier this year. Expect Sock to exact a measure of revenge on Day 1 in straight sets.
