U.S. Open Preview: Day One Men’s Draw
There are 22 men’s singles matches set for opening day of the 2013 U.S. Open, with seven Spaniards leading the way. Today’s weather calls for a clear afternoon with scattered showers and thunderstorms forecast for the late afternoon.
The hottest player in the world, 2010 U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal, who is undefeated on hard courts this year (15-0) and five-time U.S. Open winner number seven Roger Federer, are the headliners on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal, who has won an ATP World Tour-best nine titles this season, including an eighth Roland Garros crown, en route to a 53-3 overall match record, plays American wild card Ryan Harrison for the second time (Nadal leads the head-to-head 1-0). Harrison is trying to earn his first career top 10 win (0-19).
Federer will make his Grand Slam record-tying 56th consecutive Grand Slam tournament appearance as he takes on Grega Zemlja of Slovenia (Federer leads the head-to-head series 2-0). Federer ties South African Wayne Ferreira with the most consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played in singles. Federer comes into the U.S. Open seeded seventh, his lowest in a Grand Slam tournament since 2002 when he came into the U.S. Open seeded at number 13. Federer has the most match wins at night in Arthur Ashe Stadium (21-1).
The number four seed, David Ferrer, who has reached the quarterfinals or better in the past seven Grand Slam
tournaments, plays Aussie qualifier and current world number one junior Nick Kyrgios. Ferrer reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in June and is a two-time U.S. Open semifinalist (2007 and 2012). The 18-year-old Kyrgios is one of two teenagers and the second-youngest in the draw behind 17-year-old Collin Altamirano.
The number eight-seeded Richard Gasquet plays the second-oldest player in the draw, 35-year-old American Michael Russell, who is also looking for his first career main draw win at the U.S. Open (0-8). There are 15 players from France and the U.S. in the main draw, the most of any country.
The top Asian player, number 11-seeded Kei Nishikori, is on Court 13 against qualifier/British number three Daniel Evans.
Among the other Spaniards in action are: Number 19 Tommy Robredo, number 23 seed Feliciano Lopez, number 27 Fernando Verdasco, Roberto Bautista-Agut and Albert Ramos.
Arthur Ashe Stadium
â–º(2) Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. (WC) Ryan Harrison (USA) Nadal leads 1-0
â–º(7) Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Grega Zemlja (SLO) Federer leads 2-0
Louis Armstrong Stadium
â–º(8) Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Michael Russell (USA) First Meeting
â–º(4) David Ferrer (ESP) vs. (Q) Nick Kyrgios (AUS) First Meeting
Grandstand
â–ºAlbert Ramos (ESP) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS) First Meeting
â–º(27) Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Ivan Dodig (CRO) Verdasco leads 1-0
Court 17
â–º(18) Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs. Pablo Cuevas (URU) First Meeting
â–º(19) Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Marinko Matosevic (AUS) Matosevic leads 1-0
American Men in Action (4)
â–º(WC) Ryan Harrison vs. (2) Rafael Nadal 3rd on Ashe
â–ºMichael Russell vs. (8) Richard Gasquet 2nd on Armstrong
â–º(WC) Rhyne Williams vs. Nikolay Davydenko 2nd on Court 7
â–º(WC) Bradley Klahn vs. Kenny De Schepper 2nd on Court 11
