John Isner versus Mischa Zverev

With many of the top dogs withdrawing from the year's last major, there was abundant talk about what an opportunity it could be for some players.  Couple that with some of the stinging upsets that have already occurred, and American fans must be wondering if this is not the year when John Isner may make something happen at the US Open.  His booming serve, imposing forehand, and willingness to charge the net are all attributes that translate well to this surface and being in the weaker half of the draw, the stage could possibly be set for such a run.  And yet, it is equally feasible that he could stumble before Week 2 at the hands of Mischa Zverev. 

The German may not possess quite the same level of pop as the tenth seed, but he is still equally up to the task of dictating rallies with his aggressive style of play.  He possesses more variety in his game – particularly from the backhand wing – and he is quicker about the court.  Additionally, he is just as comfortable at the net and prefers to get there as frequently as possible, which is a style of play that can be unsettling to the American who is not used to opponents taking the forecourt away from him.  Furthermore, Zverev won both of their meetings this year, including a five-set thriller in the second round of the Australian Open.  Isner has enjoyed the better summer, but he has also been hit-or-miss and could experience doubts thanks to those losses to the German earlier this season.  It gives this match more of a 50-50 feel with arguably the slight mental edge going to Zverev.

Petra Kvitova versus Caroline Garcia

In a match that could either sizzle or fizzle, Petra Kvitova will face Caroline Garcia for a spot in the second week of the US Open.  Until recently, Garcia had been known primarily as one of the best doubles players in the world, but she has now devoted herself to singles play.  It seems to have paid off for the Frenchwoman, who has started to regularly make the latter ends of tournaments, including a deep run at her native slam of Roland Garros.  She has always been known as a talented player.  She has beautiful feel in the forecourt, a deceptively good first serve, and her hard, flat ground strokes have given even the most decorated of champions fits when Garcia is on her game. 

Of course, much of the same can be said about her opponent, Kvitova.  Like Garcia, she boasts easy power, which is made even more effective by her ability to inject touch from both the baseline and the forecourt.  Unlike Garcia, she already has a proven track record in the majors, as evidenced by her two Wimbledon singles crowns.  But Kvitova is lacking match play, having not returned to competition until earlier this spring at Roland Garros following her horrific home invasion.  She has never played her best tennis in New York, and Garcia has won their last two meetings.  Ultimately, this one comes down to which woman can strike the right balance between aggression and keeping that high unforced error count that they are prone to at a minimum.  It is a golden opportunity for both that this time around potentially favors Garcia with her added match fitness.

Marin Cilic versus Diego Schwartzman

Fate can be cruel, or it can be kind.  It has recently been a little of both for Cilic.  He was left in tears two months ago when after working so hard to reach the Wimbledon final, he sustained an injury that severely hampered his ability to play anywhere near his best.  The injury kept him on the sidelines in the weeks that followed, and there was a question as to whether he would even contest the US Open.  But the Croat, who had zero preparation for this event, found himself fit to play, and with the withdrawal of the second-seeded Andy Murray, found himself moved up to the Number 2 spot in the draw.  It not only ensured that he was in the weaker portion of the draw but with the upsets that have occurred to this point, his odds of potentially reaching the final seem to increase every day.  That said, he must avoid becoming a victim of an upset himself, and that will not be a given against Diego Schwartzman.

The Argentine has really come into his own throughout 2017 and finds himself knocking on the door of the Top 30 for the first time in his career.  He is a great retriever and is solid off both wings.  He is capable of playing bigger than his small stature would suggest, and he has plenty of heart.  He nearly got the better of Novak Djokovic this spring at Roland Garros, so he is unlikely to balk at doing something similar to the fifth seed here.  If Cilic is still trying to shake off the rust and starts to feel the pressure of being one of the remaining favorites in the bottom half of the draw, then Schwartzman is more than capable of pulling off the upset.  But the match is on Cilic's racket, and if he is back to playing at or near his best, then he is making another appearance in Week 2.