Melanie Oudin vs. Olga Savchuk (Arthur Ashe Stadium, first match)
The USTA has long depended on Serena and Venus Williams to fill seats in Ashe, but it appeared to have another American leading lady in Oudin after last year’s Open. Yet after a 39-17 singles record in 2009, the Georgian is just 17-20 this year and limps into New York on a four-match losing streak. Of course, she’ll still bring the fans—most last watched her during her quarterfinal run in Queens—but for how long? Her first-rounder against Savchuk, a qualifier, is no gimme. The Ukranian comes into this match with much more confidence than Oudin after three wins in the qualifying tournament. But will she be able to handle the big-stage spotlight? Oudin has already proven she can.
The Pick: Oudin in two sets
**Daniela Hantuchova [24] vs. Dinara Safina (Louis Armstrong Stadium, second match)
The Armstrong card is tremendous on Day 1: Nikolay Davydenko vs. Michael Russell will be scrappy and entertaining; Elena Vesnina should pose threat to Sam Stosur; and the Lleyton Hewitt vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu late-afternoon match may last well into the evening. But Hantuchova-Safina could be the best of the bunch. It will almost certainly be the most dramatic. Hopefully, that translates into good play from both sides. Safina had a wretched return to the WTA tour after injury this spring, at one point losing six straight matches. But she’s won four of her last six contests, including victories over Francesca Schiavone, Nadia Petrova and…Hantuchova, in a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) nail-biter in New Haven. Like those tiebreakers, this one’s a toss-up.
The Pick: Hantuchova in three sets
Kevin Anderson vs. Somdev Devvarman (Court 7, fourth match)
ESPN2 will broadcast the U.S. Open throughout the fortnight, but this match should be on ESPNU. Anderson played college tennis for the University of Illinois, winning the 2006 NCAA doubles title and reaching the 2007 singles semifinals. Devvarman is one of the University of Virginia’s most decorated athletes, taking the NCAA singles titles in 2007 and 2008. He even had his jersey retired—how many ATP tour players can say that? At the professional level, however, Anderson has proven mightier, taking advantage of his towering 6-foot-8 height with an impressive serve. That will likely be the difference in this match as well.
The Pick: Anderson in four sets**
Ed McGrogan is an assistant editor for TENNIS.com. Follow him on Twitter.