US Open Men’s Draw: 5 first-round clashes that could deliver serious drama

The US Open draw has been revealed, and players now know their first-round opponents as well as the path they will have to navigate if they want to make a deep run in Flushing Meadows. The seeding system prevents the highest-ranked players from meeting early, but that has not stopped us from getting several high-stakes clashes in the opening round.

There are also several players who may not be ranked inside the top 10 but remain major threats capable of causing an upset. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis are among the names who could make an early impact — or at least make life extremely difficult for their opponents. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz faces a tricky opening test against talented Roman Safiullin, who could pose a genuine threat to the defending champion given his lack of competitive rhythm.

The wildcard Stan Wawrinka could also play his final professional match at the US Open after being handed a late wildcard, and he was drawn against Matteo Berrettini, a former Wimbledon runner-up. While Berrettini has not been at his best recently, the matchup has all the ingredients to be played on one of the tournament's main courts despite both players being unseeded.

Below is our selection of the five must-watch first-round matches: big names, dark horses and high-stakes clashes that go well beyond the rankings at a US Open that already looks wide open before the action begins.

A high-caliber clash awaits recent Cincinnati Open champion Arthur Fils, who arrives in New York full of confidence as the current world No. 11 and looking to make a statement at a Grand Slam. Motivation certainly will not be an issue: Fils missed last year's US Open, as well as the Australian Open and Roland Garros this season, while an early exit at Wimbledon further limited his appearances at the majors over the past year, despite being one of the strongest names on Tour when he is playing at his best.

As the recent Masters 1000 champion, Fils is the favorite, but he has been handed a difficult draw against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek recently added Patrick Mouratoglou to his coaching team and returned to winning ways a few weeks ago by lifting the Swiss Open title.

Tsitsipas is not in his best form, but he remains a player of considerable pedigree and will be hoping for an opportunity like this — against a major opponent — to prove that he can still produce big wins and remain a force at Grand Slam level.

There is also a fascinating subplot involving Goran Ivanisevic, who is currently coaching Fils. The Croatian will face his former player Tsitsipas from the opposite side of the net after their controversial split two years ago, which included strong criticism from both sides. That adds another layer of intrigue to what is already one of the most interesting first-round matches.

Our pick: Arthur Fils in four sets.

One of the names of the season has been Rafael Jodar, a clear candidate for Newcomer of the Year after producing a historic campaign. He started the season outside the top 150 and has already climbed to No. 13, putting him just a few steps away from the top 10. A strong US Open could allow him to take that final step.

His first challenge, however, is anything but easy. Thanasi Kokkinakis has been hampered by injuries over the past couple of years, but the Australian continues to look for significant wins at Grand Slam level. He is a player we know as a true fighter, having produced several epic five-set battles throughout his career, and although the favorite is clearly Jodar, Kokkinakis is not going to make things easy.

When inspired, Kokkinakis can produce a real show, and there could be extra motivation in facing such a young opponent who has rapidly risen through the rankings. In my view, this has all the ingredients of a five-set battle if we see a good version of Kokkinakis.

Our pick: Rafael Jodar in five sets.

The defending champion was not particularly fortunate with the draw, as he will face Roman Safiullin in the opening round. The Russian has never quite managed to fulfill his potential, with injuries playing a major role, but his talent and ability suggest he should be ranked much higher.

Safiullin enjoyed an impressive Wimbledon a few weeks ago, winning six consecutive matches to reach the fourth round after coming through qualifying. Along the way, he defeated players such as Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca before being eliminated by Novak Djokovic in four sets.

The Russian has also come through multiple five-set battles in the past and can be particularly dangerous when matches become physical and prolonged. Considering Alcaraz's current situation, without competitive rhythm after his lengthy absence, a five-set battle could become especially dangerous for the defending champion.

Alcaraz needs to establish control from the beginning, while patience will be key for Safiullin. The biggest question is whether Alcaraz can immediately find his highest level — and, perhaps more importantly, how long he can sustain it if the match turns into a long battle.

Our pick: Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.

This is a rematch of a first-round Wimbledon clash from two months ago. Two big servers, two major names and potentially one final Grand Slam match for three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

They met for the first time at Wimbledon, in a match that was decided by four tiebreaks, including an extraordinary 34-point shootout. Now they meet again in New York, with very different circumstances surrounding the Swiss.

Berrettini reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros earlier in the season and the third round at Wimbledon, showing that he can still be a player to consider at Grand Slam tournaments. He knows he can make a deep run, although his opening match will be extremely difficult, particularly from an emotional standpoint.

Wawrinka is expected to receive huge support from the New York crowd, which will be hoping to help the 41-year-old extend his remarkable career for a little longer. The three-time Grand Slam champion won his final major at the US Open in 2016, making this potentially his final appearance at a Grand Slam.

Our pick: Matteo Berrettini in five sets.

The moment of truth has arrived for Arthur Fery, who will make his US Open debut after his heroic Wimbledon run to the semifinals as British No. 1. The big question is whether that run was simply a spectacular breakthrough or whether Fery is ready to establish himself as a genuine heavyweight on Tour.

The US Open provides the perfect opportunity to answer that question, although his first-round draw could hardly have been more difficult. Lorenzo Musetti is not yet at his best, but the Italian is gradually rebuilding his level and remains a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist with clear ambitions of making another deep run in New York.

There are no obvious favorites here, especially with Fery having found confidence during the recent hard-court swing. He competed in Winston-Salem and reached the semifinals, giving him valuable experience and momentum heading into his Grand Slam debut.

Musetti, meanwhile, appears to be rediscovering his level after spending time away with injury. He reached the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and showed that he could be ready to make a serious impact on the hard courts. If he can maintain that level, his experience at this stage could make the difference.

Our pick: Lorenzo Musetti in five sets.