Preamble
Recovered from Wimbledon yet? No? Too bad. It’s hot in New York, expectations are sky high and the 2019 US Open open starts here, with all eyes on the grudge match between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova later on. That’s easily the biggest bout of the opening day, even if both players have been in better nick. Williams has struggled with injuries all year and as for Sharapova, well, she hasn’t quite been the same since her return from a doping ban. Still, there’s no love lost between the pair, so expect fireworks when they lock horns.
Plenty to get through before all that, though. On the women’s side there’s Ashleigh Barty, the French Open champion, against Zarina Diyas, while Britain’s Johanna Konta faces a tricky test against the unseeded Russian Daria Kasatkina in the opener on Court 17. On the men’s side, meanwhile, world No1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic opens up against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, while Britain’s Dan Evans takes on wily French lefty Adrian Mannarino.
Play begins at: 4pm BST, 11am in New York.
