The 2020 US Open will be like no other. However, despite no fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the action on the courts should be as competitive as ever.
First-round matches at the 2020 US Open will be played Monday and Tuesday, and many of the biggest names in the sport will face early tough tests. Here’s a look at 10 first-round matches to keep an eye on:
Women’s First Round:
Kristie Ahn vs. No. 3 Serena Williams
All eyes are on Serena as she resumes her quest for a record-tying 24th career singles Grand Slam title. It’s been a rocky return to tennis this summer, as Williams lost to Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinals of the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Ky., and then got bounced in the third round at the Western & Southern Open by Maria Sakkari. Williams is in a tough quarter of the draw—she’ll potentially have to get past Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Sloane Stephens to reach the semifinals. But first she must face a worthy first-round challenge. Ahn—who was born in Flushing Meadows, home of the US Open—made it to the fourth round as a wild-card entrant last year, defeating Jelena Ostapenko along the way.
No. 20 Karolina Muchova vs. Venus Williams
While Serena chases history, sister Venus owns plenty of US Open history herself. She’s played more US Open matches over the years than any other player. While that’s a testament to her ability, it also speaks to age. When the 40-year-old Venus played her first US Open in 1997, Muchova wasn’t even born. The 24-year-old Czech went further than Venus in Flushing Meadows last year: While Venus was ousted in the second round, Muchova advanced to Round 3 (before losing to Serena).
(WC) Kim Clijsters vs. No. 21 Ekaterina Alexandrova
Clijsters is a three-time US Open women’s singles champion, but she hasn’t played Flushing Meadows since 2012 (thus the wild-card entry). The return from her second retirement was delayed by the pandemic, but the 37-year-old Belgian showed flashes this summer playing World TeamTennis. That said, she also battled an abdominal injury that forced her to sit out the Western & Southern Open. Clijsters’ first-round opponent was 7 years old when she won her last US Open title. More importantly, the 24-year-old Russian is no stranger to knocking off former US Open champs in the first round: Just last year, Alexandrova defeated 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in the opening round.
Coco Gauff vs. No. 31 Anastasija Sevastova
Sevastova was a US Open semifinalist as recently as two years ago, so it won’t be easy for last year’s Open darling to reach the second round. The 16-year-old Gauff was the youngest competitor in New York last summer, when she reached the third round and lost a memorable match against then-No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Gauff continued her rise with a win over Osaka at the 2020 Australian Open, also defeating Venus Williams before losing a fourth-round match to eventual champion Sofia Kenin.
(WC) Robin Montgomery vs. No. 23 Yulia Putintseva
The 15-year-old Montgomery takes the mantel from Gauff this year as the youngest player in the tournament. Montgomery rose to No. 5 as a junior last year before dipping her toes into the pro circuit this year. The American tennis prodigy could become the next US Open darling, but she won’t have an easy Flushing Meadows main-draw debut. The 25-year-old Putintseva advanced to the third round in New York last year, with a victory over ranked opponent Aryna Sabalenka.
