By Russell Miller
Thursday at the US Open saw the singles draws get revealed as players finalize their preparations for the final Grand Slam of 2022.
128 men and women will fight it out for one of the biggest prizes in tennis. This year’s men’s and women’s champions will each take home $2.6M in prize money. Undoubtedly many will stories unfold throughout the next two weeks with the first round featuring a series of mouthwatering clashes.
Here are five matches at Flushing Meadows that shouldn’t be missed.
1. Emma Raducanu (11) v Alize Cornet
Emma Raducanu will start the defence of her improbable US Open crown with a tricky clash against Alize Cornet. Since hinting at retirement early this year, Cornet has rediscovered some of her best tennis, with wins over Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and current world number one, Iga Swiatek. The 19-year-old Brit will drop outside the world’s top 60 with defeat here and could not have handpicked many tougher opening round draws.
H2H: First meeting
2. Nick Kyrgios (23) v Thanasi Kokkinakis
Nick Kyrgios is one of the leading contenders to win the men’s singles at this year’s tournament, but the Australian faces his best friend on tour and doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, in round one. Kokkinakis is close to his career-high singles ranking, and has been enjoying a relatively injury-free season despite earlier physical issues in the past. If Kyrgios can progress through here, all eyes will be on a potential fourth-round clash with defending champion Daniil Medvedev.
H2H: Kyrgios leads 2-0 (including events below ATP Tour)
3. Naomi Osaka v Danielle Collins (19)
Naomi Osaka was one of the huge unseeded threats in the women’s draw and has been pitted against the 19th seed and Australian Open runner-up, Danielle Collins. Both players have suffered injuries during 2022, with Collins winless since May, and Osaka playing her first Slam since Roland Garros. However, the hard-court prowess of both players suggests that this match could be a classic, assuming both players are fully fit.
H2H: Osaka leads 3-0
4. Pablo Carreno Busta (12) v Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem’s last memory of the US Open was back in 2020, when he claimed his maiden Major title. Fast forward two years, and he is unseeded at the tournament, as he takes on the underdog role against the Canadian Masters champion, Pablo Carreno Busta. The Austrian is slowly making his way back to form following a serious wrist injury, which forced him out for almost a year. If Thiem can keep the momentum going, he could create an epic match against the Spaniard, who is in fine form.
H2H: Thiem leads 8-1 (including events below ATP Tour)
5. Qinwen Zheng v Jelena Ostapenko (16)
Jelena Ostapenko is one of the hardest players to predict in women’s tennis and faces a tough opponent in the opening round in the shape of Qinwen Zheng. The fiery Latvian has never made it past the third round in New York and takes on one of the rising stars in women’s tennis. Zheng’s talent has caught the eye of many throughout 2022 and could take advantage of the erratic tennis that the Latvian often produces.
H2H: First meeting
