US Open 2023: Day 1 Order of play and schedule – When are Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic playing?
The 2023 Grand Slam season swings into New York on Monday as the US Open gets underway. Reigning champion Iga Swiatek is among those in action on day one, while a host of other stars like local favourite Coco Gauff and No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic will also take to the court.
Men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz will not feature on the opening day, but American contenders Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will do so, surely to the warm backing of their home crowd – albeit against fellow Americans.
Djokovic could regain the world No. 1 ranking if he progresses past his first-round match, while veteran John Isner is poised to bid farewell to Flushing Meadows in his final Grand Slam appearance.
A total of $65 million in prize money is on the line at the 2023 edition of America’s Grand Slam, the most ever at the event. 2023 marks the 50th year of equal prize money being distributed to both the men’s and women’s champions. In 1973, the first year of equality of payment, the champions took home $25,000 each. This year, each singles champ will claim $3m.
Top women’s match – Sloane Stephens v Beatriz Haddad Maia
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens takes on the Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Haddad Maia reached the French Open semi-finals this year, becoming the first Brazilian woman to go so far in a Grand Slam and she will be hoping to make it even further in New York. Stephens by contrast has struggled for form in 2023. However, a recent good run of six wins from nine matches, including reaching the quarter-finals in Cleveland, will provide reason for optimism.
This pair have met just once before in official tournament play, four years ago, with Haddad Maia claiming victory.
Stephens has a strong record in this tournament, having nine times advanced beyond the first round.
This match promises to be a baseline battle filled with long rallies and should prove a tight fight.
Top men’s match – Alexandre Muller v Novak Djokovic
In the evening session, Novak Djokovic will kick off his latest attempt to win a 24th Grand Slam title. The 36-year-old is returning to the US Open for the first time since 2021, having been banned from entering the United States over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19. In his last appearance, he was beaten in the final in straight sets by Daniil Medvedev marking his sixth defeat in a US Open decider.
Muller, the world No. 85, is contesting the US Open main draw for the first time after advancing through the qualifying rounds. This will be the first meeting between the two.
‘Let’s get it’ – Alcaraz ready to begin US Open title defence at Flushing Meadows
Brit watch
Yuriko Miyazaki will be flying the flag for the Brits in New York on Monday as she faces off with Margarita Betova. The Russian has just twice advanced beyond the first round at the US Open, while qualifier Miyazaki has reached the first round for the first time in her career.
On the men’s side, none of the Brits in the main draw – Andy Murray, Jack Draper, Cam Norrie and Dan Evans – will be in action on day one.
Show courts order of play, singles (UK times)
Arthur Ashe Stadium (from 5pm)
- Iga Swiatek v Rebecca Peterson
- Learner Tien v Frances Tiafoe
- Laura Siegemund v Coco Gauff
- Alexandre Muller v Novak Djokovic
Louis Armstrong Stadium (from 4pm)
- Victoria Azarenka v Fiona Ferro
- Sloane Stephens v Beatriz Haddad Maia
- Steve Johnson v Taylor Fritz
- Stefanos Tsitsipas v Milos Raonic
- Tatiana Prozorova v Caroline Wozniacki
- Alexander Bublik v Dominic Thiem
- Linda Fruhvirtova v Danielle Collins
- Elena Rybakina v Marta Kostyuk
- Soon Woo Kwon v Christopher Eubanks
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