It’s a Sunday start at the U.S. Open for the first time. Yes, why have only 14 days of competition when you can have 15?
And the festivities at Flushing Meadows will waste no time treating fans to some epic tennis. Among those taking the court on Day 1 are Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka, and Emma Raducanu.
Here are my picks for three of Sunday’s best matchups.
(7) Novak Djokovic vs. Learner Tien
On Sunday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic will begin another quest for a 25th major and fifth in New York. The 38-year-old Serb has not played any non-slam event since before the French Open. He pretty much only appears for the big stuff these days. And when he does, he has played relatively well in 2025. Djokovic has reached the semis at all three Grand Slams, but he is still looking for his first slam final appearance of the season. Up first is Tien, who upset Medvedev en route to the fourth round of the Australian Open at the start of 2025. The 19-year-old American has no fear on the big stage, so this could be a somewhat interesting opener for Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
(WC) Stefan Dostanic vs. (WC) Eliot Spizzirri
This is an all-college, all-wild card, all-American battle. Dostanic led Wake Forest to the NCAA team title in May, while Spizzirri concluded his Texas career in 2023 after twice finishing as the top-ranked player in the nation. They have already gone head-to-head twice in the pros , with Dostanic prevailing 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 last season in Charleston before Spizzirri coasted to a 6-3, 6-2 victory earlier this summer in Lexington. Dostanic picked up his first-ever ATP win this past week in Winston-Salem, but their recent H2H result likely means Spizzirri has the edge.
Pick: Spizzirri in 5
(13) Daniil Medvedev vs. Benjamin Bonzi
Somewhat surprisingly, Bonzi has won both of their previous meetings–via retirement while leading two sets to one at the 2017 French Open and in four sets at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Medvedev’s setback in London left him fuming about how lower-ranked opponents often play their best matches whenever he is on the other side of the net. That being said, the former U.S. Open champion (2021) should be more concerned with his own game. He is 8-8 in his last 16 matches and has not won a title since the 2023 Rome Masters. This is a great opportunity for Bonzi to pull off another upset.
Pick: Bonzi in 5
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.