Three to See, Day 1: Halep, Sharapova get US Open started with a bang

Each day of the tournament, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches at Flushing Meadows.

Denis Shapovalov [Q] vs. Daniil Medvedev

In tennis, all the world is not a big stage—you have to be able to win when no one is looking, too. The 18-year-old Shapovalov showed us what he could do under the spotlight in Montreal, where he beat Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal. This past week, though, he did the much less glamorous but necessary work of winning three qualifying matches to get into the US Open. Now the world No. 69 will head out to anonymous Court 7 to face the 53rd-ranked Medvedev, a talented, temperamental Russian. It won’t be a big stage, but the stands should be full. Winner: Shapovalov

Sloane Stephens vs. Roberta Vinci

The American and the Italian—who will face off in the new, temporary version of Armstrong Stadium (“Temp Louis” in US Open speak)—have never played. Their first meeting should be interesting. Vinci, 34, is the higher-ranked, more-accomplished player; she reached the final here two years ago. But Stephens, 24, has been the hotter—and calmer—player this summer. She reached the semifinals in Cincinnati and recorded a one-sided win over Angelique Kerber. Can Sloane keep her newfound cool against Vinci’s clever disruptions? Winner: Stephens

Simona Halep [2] vs. Maria Sharapova [WC]

Pity Halep: She earns the No. 2 seeding at the Open, only to have to face the wild-carded Sharapova—a player she has yet to beat in six tries—in the opening round. This evening-session special is tough to call. Sharapova will have the mental edge. She has fended off Halep in some close ones, most famously in the 2014 French Open final, and historically she’s the better big-stage player, having won five majors to Halep’s zero. But Halep will obviously have the advantage when it comes to form. She has been going deep virtually every week for months, while Sharapova, who has been fighting soreness in her left arm, has played just one match since May. Winner: Sharapova

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