2016 U.S. Open Day Two Preview: Serena and Murray Highlight Opening Round Action

August 30, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: EPIX

Serena Williams enters the 2016 U.S. Open as the WTA’s top-ranked player, and has had a stranglehold on the top spot since Feb. 18, 2013. She will look to continue her historic roll as she faces Russian Ekaterina Makarova under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium kicking off the evening session. Serena holds a 4-1 advantage over the Russian, the most recent encounter, a semifinal win by Serna in the semis at the 2014 U.S. Open. With six U.S. Open singles titles, Serena is tied with Chris Evert for most in the Open Era.

Prior to Serena taking the courts at Ashe, her sister Venus will look to continue her resurgent 2016 when she faces Kateryna Kozlova of the Ukraine. The two have never met before as the 36-year-old Venus eyes a run at the Flushing Meadows title, having captured the championship in 2000 and 2001 and second place finishes in 1997 and again in 2002.

Hot off winning last week's Connecticut Open, Agnieszka Radwanska is making her 11th consecutive appearance at the U.S. Open, with her best results being four Round of 16 appearances in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2013. Seeded fourth, Radwanska will face American Jessica Pegula in afternoon action at Louis Armstrong Stadium. This will mark the first ever career meeting between Pegula and Radwanska.

On the men’s side of the draw, Andy Murray looks to build momentum off his recent Gold Medal run at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio when he begins his campaign with a nightcap on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic. The second seeded Murray holds a 2-0 career advantage over Rosol, as he bids to become the fourth man in the Open Era to reach all four major finals in a calendar year.

Also beginning his run in Flushing Meadows on Tuesday is the number three seed, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. Wawrinka will face the always tough Fernando Verdasco of Spain in afternoon action at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Wawrinka reached the quarterfinals or better in three straight U.S. Open appearances.

Click here to view the full Schedule of Play for Day Two of the 2016 U.S. Open.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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