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Opening Night at Tennis’ US Open with First-Ever “Double Doubleheader”

Aug 26th 2018

The 50th Anniversary US Open will double your evening pleasure starting Monday, Aug. 27, with the first-ever scheduled night session doubleheaders on the new Louis Armstrong Stadium alongside the matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium on ESPN2 at 7 p. m. ET.  The Ashe twinibill has six-time champion #17 Serena Williams who is seeking a record-tying 24th Major title vs. Magda Linette followed by defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal who will begin his quest for an 18th Major victory vs. fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.  At the same time, two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka faces Viktoria Kuzmova on Armstrong before 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro squares off with American Donald Young as the top half of each draw open the tournament.

ESPN2’s live coverage of the opening Monday night will include a performance from Arthur Ashe Stadium by Kelly Clarkson. The opening night 50th Anniversary festivities will be co-hosted by Billie Jean King and Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN’s weekday morning Get Up.

A number of big names will play earlier in the day on ESPN+, the new direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN.  Starting at 11 a. m., key players in action include #25 Milos Raonic, #12 Garbine Muguruza, last year’s finalist #5 Kevin Anderson vs. Ryan Harrison of the U. S., plus Americans #18 Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Asia Muhammad.

ESPN has exclusive live action to the US Open beginning Monday, Aug. 27, with 130 hours on television and 1,300  more streaming live on the ESPN app via ESPN+ and ESPN3.  The daily action from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will culminate with the Women’s Championship on Saturday, Sept. 8, and the Men’s Championship on Sunday, Sept. 9, both at 4 p. m. ET.

Day One Matchups on Ashe and Armstrong

Arthur Ashe Stadium – Noon

Former winner Stan Wawrinka vs. #8 Grigor Dimitrov
Battle of former champions, #16 Venus Williams vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova

Louis Armstrong Stadium – Noon

Top seeded Simona Halep vs. Kaia Kanepi
2012 winner Andy Murray vs. James Duckworth
Defending champion #3 Sloane Stephens vs. Evgeniya Rodina

Arthur Ashe Stadium – 7 p. m.

Opening Ceremony
#17 Serena Williams vs. Magda Linette
#1 Rafael Nadal vs. David Ferrer

Louis Armstrong Stadium – 7 p. m.

Victoria Azarenka vs. Viktoria Kuzmova
#3 Juan Martin del Potro vs. American Donald Young, who made the draw via qualifying

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s play when the bottom halves of each draw take the court:

The Ashe evening doubleheader will see five-time US Open champion #2 Roger Federer, owner of 20 Major titles, play Yoshihito Nishioka, followed by American #14 Madison Keys against Pauline Parmentier. 
The Armstrong night session starts with #30 Nick Kyrgios vs. Radu Albot then 2006 champion Maria Sharapova vs. Patti Schynder, who at 39 made the draw via qualifying.

Daytime matches include:

#6 Novak Djokovic, who counts two US Open trophies and last month’s Wimbledon among his 13 Major titles vs. Marton Fucsovics
#2 Caroline Wozniacki vs. 2011 winner Samantha Stosur
2016 winner Angelique Kerber, the #4 seed fresh off a Wimbledon title, vs Margarita Gasparyan
#4 Sascha Zverev vs. Peter Polansky

Tuesday on ESPN+ is highlighted by:

Two matchups of Americans – Taylor Townsend vs. 16-year old Amanda Anisimova and Christina McHale vs. Francesca DiLorenzo
#5 Petra Kvitova vs. Yanina Wickmayer
American #24 CoCo Vandeweghe, a semifinalist a year ago, vs. Kirsten Flipkens
American Daniela Collins vs. #26 Aryna Sabalenka
American Michael Mmoh vs. #14 Fabio Fognini
#21 Kei Nishikori, a finalist in New York in 2014, vs. Maxmillian Marterer