Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Mugurza are some of the big names in action on the opening day of the US Open 2016. The final Grand Slam of the year begins with both the men's and women's draw looking primed for a fair few surprises.
While the women's draw invariably throws up a few upsets, the usual suspects in Djokovic, Andy Murray and Nadal, if he stays fit, are expected to ease into the second week, but finding their rhythm through the first week will be key to how far they go.
Djokovic is coming off a disappointing third round exit at Wimbledon, the reason which, according to the world number one, was "personal issues" and after suffering a first round exit at the hands of Juan Martin Del Potro at the Rio Olympics – a wrist injury was the problem – Djokovic has a thing or two to prove at this US Open.
The Serbian opens up the night session at the US Open with a men's singles first round match against Poland's Jerzy Janowicz. Djokovic should be fine, provided that wrist injury has healed.
Before that, Nadal will be in action at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, finishing the morning session on Day 1 of the US Open with a first round match against Denis Istomin. Nadal showed signs of his old self at the Olympics, with the wrist injury of his looking like it had healed.
As long as the Spaniard is fit enough, the No.4 seed should not have too many problems.
The likes of former US Open champion Marin Cilic, home hope John Isner, entertainers extraordinaire Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils, Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic and France's single-handed backhand man Richard Gasquet will also make their US Open 2016 bow in the men's singles on Monday.
Kerber, looking to usurp Serena Williams as the world number one, will be the cynosure in the women's singles, with the No.2 seed facing off against Polona Hercog of Slovenia in the opening round.
Garbine Muguruza, another one of the contenders for the title, plays Belgium's Elise Mertens, while the likes of Roberta Vinci, the runner-up last year, Sevtlana Kuznetsova, home favourite Madison Keys, Caroline Wozniacki and Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig will also be on view at the US Open on Monday.
US Open 2016: Day 1 order of play.
Arthur Ashe Stadium (All first round): 11 a.m. local time (8.30 p.m. IST): Women's singles: Roberta Vinci (7) vs Anna-Lena Friedsam.
Followed by
Women's singles: Angelique Kerber (2) vs Polona Hercog
Followed by
Men's singles: Rafael Nadal (4) vs Denis Istomin.
7 p.m. local time (4.30 a.m. IST next day): Men's singles: Novak Djokovic (1) vs Jerzy Janowicz.
Followed by
Women's singles: Madison Keys (8) vs Alison Riske.
Louis Armstrong Stadium: 11 a.m. local time (8.30 p.m. IST): Men's singles: Rogerio Dutra Silva vs Marin Cilic (7).
Followed by
Women's singles: Francesca Schiavone vs Svetlana Kuznetsova (9).
Followed by
Women's singles: Elise Mertens vs Garbine Muguruza (3).
Followed by
Men's singles: Jack Sock (26) vs Taylor Fritz.
Grandstand: 11 a.m. local time (8.30 p.m. IST): Women's singles: Taylor Townsend vs Caroline Wozniacki.
Followed by
Men's singles: John Isner (20) vs Frances Tiafoe (not before 1 p.m. local time (10.30 p.m. IST).
Followed by
Men's singles: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (9) vs Guido Andreozzi.
Followed by
Women's singles: Johanna Konta (13) vs Bethanie-Mattek Sands.
Court 9: Last match of four (first match begins at 11 a.m. local time, 8.30 p.m. IST): Men's singles: Jiri Vesely vs Saketh Myneni.
