Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA;
Ashleigh Barty of Australia hits to Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Partly cloudy skies and a cool breeze did little to dampen the enthusiasm of fans packed into Flushing Meadows for the U.S. Open on Monday, where the sport's biggest names were set to embark on their quest to win the year's final Grand Slam.
World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic and French Open champion Ash Barty will take the court in the morning before five-times winner Roger Federer closes the night session on Arthur Ashe.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daria Kasatkina of Russia returns a shot against Johanna Konta of Great Britain in a first round match on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The most anticipated match, however, was the first-round showdown between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, a pair of powerhouses who for years were the two most recognisable names in women's tennis.
Williams and Sharapova have never met at the U.S. Open before and although eighth seed Williams will be the favourite against the world number 87.
Williams holds a commanding 19-2 career record against Russian Sharapova but the 37-year-old American's fitness could be an issue.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Johanna Konta of Great Britain returns a shot against Daria Kasatkina of Russia in a first round match on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Seeking a record-tying 24th career Grand Slam title, Williams forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup final in Toronto due to back spasms and sat out the Cincinnati Open this month.
The U.S. Open runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Kei Nishikori of Japan hits to Marco Trungelliti of Argentina in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Ed Osmond)
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Eugenie Bouchard of Canada returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia in a first round match on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY SportsAug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia returns a shot against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in a first round match on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
