By Chris Oddo | Tuesday September 1, 2015
Roger Federer will open his bid for a 6th U.S. Open title on Tuesday in New York.
Photo Source: Al Bello/ Getty
On each day of the U.S. Open we will provide you with notes on three matches to watch, plus notes and numbers to keep you well-equipped for the day ahead.
SEE THE COMPLETE DAY 2 SCHEDULE HERE
1. Roger Federer vs. Leonardo Mayer, 3rd Match Ashe
The last—and only—time that Roger Federer and Leonardo Mayer met, the Swiss maestro needed to save five match points in Shanghai. On Tuesday, Federer’s hoping that he’ll take the less scenic route to victory on Ashe. The Maestro has been in great form, having won the Cincinnati title last week, and should be able to take the upper hand on Mayer on a court that is so familiar to Federer and home to so many good memories for him.
Mayer comes in to New York in lukewarm form He’s lost two in a row and hasn’t won two consecutively since Wimbledon.
2. Andrea Petkovic vs. Caroline Garcia, 3rd Match, Grandstand
Petkovic has slowly started to pick up her game on the hard courts this summer. She nearly took out Simona Halep in Cincinnati last week but fell just short. Is she peaking at the right time in New York? Garcia, too, has had a good summer. She defeated Petra Kvitova in Cincinnati for her biggest win ever and also took out Timea Bacsinszky in New Haven. But each time she notches a big win she has trouble backing it up. In any case, this should be a good battle between two talented players that have a lot to play for.
3. Nick Kyrgios vs Andy Murray, 1st Night Session Match
Kyrgios has a big matchup problem with Murray, as Murray is too gifted a returner to let Kyrgios serve him off the court, and Kyrgios is too poor of of a returner to get many looks at the Murray serve. It’s doubtful that Kyrgios can produce an upset in this tilt, but all eyes, nonetheless, will be on Kyrgios to see what kind of craziness (on court or off) he can come up with.
By the Numbers
64 Number of Slams Roger Federer will have played in consecutively after Tuesday. That’s the all-time record for men and women.
18 Ace count for Venus Williams during her first-round victory over Monica Puig. No other woman connected on more than nine aces.
8 Number of women who hit serves of 115 MPH or greater on Day 1. Seven of the eight were American. Venus Williams hit the fastest serve on the women’s side at 124. Milos Raonic topped off the men’s side at 147.