The Belgians at the US Open know their opponents for the opening round. David Goffin will face a tough opponent in Alejandro Tabilo, Elise Mertens, Zizou Bergs and Greet Minnen have a more favourable draw. Incidentally, Mertens was promoted to seed after the draw due to Ons Jabeur’s withdrawal.
The 33-year-old David Goffin, 95th in the world rankings, will be given a tough nut to crack at Flushing Meadows with Alejandro Tabilo. The Chilean is number 22 in the world.
Our compatriot did beat Tabilo once before at the clay tournament of Madrid in 2022: their first and so far only meeting. Incidentally, Tabilo was also eliminated in the first round by Zizou Bergs at Roland Garros earlier this year. In New York, however, we play on hardcourt.
If Goffin, who is currently showing good form in Winston-Salem, manages to advance, he will have to face the Croatian Borna Coric (ATP-87) or the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (ATP-42) in the next round.
Zizou Bergs (ATP-85) looks into the eyes of an old acquaintance, Pavel Kotov, once number fifty in the world rankings.
The Belgian number one will meet the 25-year-old Russian for the fourth time, after three previous meetings in 2021. Bergs won one of those. The winner will face the Italian Flavio Cobolli (ATP-31) or the Australian James Duckworth (ATP-70) in the second round.
Mertens becomes 33rd seed after Jabeur withdraws
It was an eventful day for Elise Mertens. Our world number 34 was first paired with the Chinese Zheng Saisai (WTA-1323) in the first round of the women’s singles. She was top 35 in the world in 2020, but was out for 2 years with injuries. She received a wildcard for the US Open.
But later in the day came the news that Ons Jabeur (WTA-17) had to forfeit at the last minute with a shoulder injury. The organization then made Mertens the 33rd seed and moved her to another place on the main table.
Mertens’ first confrontation is now against Veronika Koedermetova, the 27-year-old Russian is a former doubles partner of the 28-year-old Belgian. The two know each other well, but have never played against each other before.
In the second round, a duel with Australian Alja Tomljanovic (WTA-119) or a qualifying player may await her. That is certainly simpler than what awaited her as a non-seeded player if she had won in the first round: perhaps a duel with Kazakh Jelena Rybakina (WTA-4).
Greet Minnen (WTA-75) will face Polish Magdalena Frech (WTA-45). Never before have the 27-year-old Minnen and her 26-year-old opponent faced each other. In the second round, a duel with Olympic vice-champion Donna Vekic (WTA-25) may follow.
