U.S. Open Preview: Top Seeds to Take the Court on Day Two

August 28, 2017 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Pliskova_Pic_08_28_17_0

The second day of the 2017 U.S. Open will play host to the top seeds from both the men’s and women’s singles draw, as Spain’s Rafael Nadal and the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova kick off their respective U.S. Open campaigns in Flushing Meadows.

Temps in Flushing are expected to be in the mid-60s to low 70s range and afternoon showers are in the forecast with a 50 percent chance of precipitation.

Pliskova, a finalist last year, will get the day started at 11:00 a.m. when she takes on Magda Linette of Poland in the first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The top ranked woman in the world enters Tuesday’s matchup having last played in Cincinnati, where she fell in the semifinals to Garbine Muguruza. Pliskova is 4-1 all-time against Linette, but the two haven’t met since 2015.

Last year’s champion on the women’s side, Angelique Kerber, will try to right the ship that is her 2017 season when she opens up with Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the match on Ashe following Pliskova’s. Kerber has fallen to sixth in the world after hoisting two Grand Slam trophies a year ago, and will take on Osaka for the first time in her career.

Reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal plays Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic as he continues his resurgent 2017 season in the afternoon on Ashe. Nadal is a two-time U.S. Open champion and has never lost a first-round match in Flushing Meadows, and he will look to extend that streak on Tuesday. Nadal won the only previous matchup between the two, a straight-sets drubbing at the 2014 French Open.

In the final match under the lights on Ashe, Roger Federer makes his return to the U.S. Open after he missed last year’s event due to an injury. The third-seeded Swiss has been the best player in the world so far this year, winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and he draws an exciting matchup against American Frances Tiafoe. The 19-year-old pushed American John Isner to five sets in the first round last year, but will have his hands full with the all-time great. There is sure to be a lot of fireworks in this matchup to close out the first round on Tuesday night.

Jelena Ostapenko, the 12th-seeded Latvian who captured the French Open title earlier in the summer, will look to continue her breakout season when she opens up against Lara Arruabareena of Spain. Following this matchup on Court 17, the always exciting Gael Monfils, the number 18 seed, takes on compatriot Jeremy Chardy. The two met eight years ago in Flushing Meadows, a straight-sets victory by Monfils.

American CiCi Bellis closes out play on Court 17 on Tuesday. Bellis, who reached the third round last year, will meet Japan’s Nao Hibino.

A U.S. Open champion in 2009, Juan Martin del Potro begins his 2017 campaign with a showdown against Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen. This match will be followed up by the all-American contest between the 20th-seeded Coco Vandeweghe and Alison Riske. The other matches between two Americans will see Shelby Rogers meet Kayla Day.

In total, there will be 23 Americans seeking spots in the second round on Tuesday.

Click here to see the full schedule for Day Two at the 2017 U.S. Open.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
USTA NTC
Pointset

March/April 2024 Digital Edition