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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 1, 2015

 
Feliciano Lopez

Feliciano Lopez faces Mardy Fish for the ninth time in the US Open second round.

Photo credit: Western & Southern Open

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. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Mardy Fish (USA), First match on Louis Armstrong Stadium


Two veterans with attacking skills meet for the first time in three years. The left-handed Lopez, who is playing some of the most dynamic tennis of his career, beat Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal en route to the Cincinnati quarterfinals last month.

Fish has won five of their eight meetings, often using his best groundstroke, the two-handed backhand, to redirect Lopez's lefty forehand. Fish, who will retire at the end of this US Open, will need to serve effectively and play aggressively to extend his Flushing Meadows farewell.

2. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA), Second match on Louis Armstrong Stadium

Friends and sometime practice partners hit together last week at the Open. They will face off for the second time on Armstrong. Former US Open Girls' champion Vandeweghe looked fit, focused and relaxed during her opening-round sweep of compatriot Sloane Stephens. So relaxed, in fact, she conducted a mid-match interview with ESPN's Pam Shriver.

Vandeweghe is the bigger server and more explosive player, who can dictate play against almost anyone when she's on, but can be erratic. An outstanding doubles player, Mattek-Sands possesses shrewd court sense, fast hands and knows her way around net. The reigning Australian Open and Roland Garros doubles champion figures to be pumped up trying to reach the third round of the Open for the first time in her 14th career Flushing Meadows appearance.

3. Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP), Second match on Grandstand

The serve and forehand are key components to success in men's tennis and these two pack a serious punch on both shots. Two-time US Open quarterfinalist Verdasco needed 22 aces and five sets to fight off 37-year-old Tommy Haas it what may well have been the German's final US Open match.

The 10th-seeded Raonic, who underwent foot surgery in the spring, snapped a three-match losing streak sweeping American Tim Smyczek in round one. Both Raonic and Verdasco can struggle to break serve: Raonic is winning 12 percent of his return games, which is 57th on the ATP this year. Verdasco can serve big, but is sometimes content to spin his first serve in to alleviate the pressure of hitting second serves at critical stages.

By the Numbers

20 Number of double faults Dustin Brown hit in his first-round loss to Robin Haase.

8-2 CoCo Vandeweghe's 2015 tie break record.

40-4  Rafael Nadal's record when winning the first set this season.


 

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