Whether home grown or a product of the region’s top collegiate programs, a huge contingent of Southern California favorites will kick off their quest for a US Open championship on Monday as the year’s final Grand Slam opens in New York.
The men’s draw is chock full of #TeamSoCal veterans and young guns, including two featured in first round match-ups are sure to capture the Manhattan spotlight. Taylor Fritz (Rancho Palos Verdes) began his summer campaign with solid outings at Wimbledon as well as Los Cabos, then reached the semifinals in Atlanta. But he’s since lost three consecutive matches ahead of the Open, leading to his first round match with Britain’s Alex de Minaur, the #13 seed. The young Brit, now 22 years old, is unbeaten in three career matches with Fritz.
In Atlanta, Fritz fell in the semifinals to fellow American John Isner, who was pushed to the brink by San Diego’s emerging ATP star Brandon Nakashima. The two will meet again in New York’s opening round, a rubber match after splitting two meetings earlier this year. Nakashima overcame the powerful Isner serve in the semis at Los Cabos, and their match in Atlanta was an all-out nailbiter. Now, the 20-year old looks to regain the advantage and bounce the #19 seed. Nakashima has played marvelous tennis in 2021, recently earning his career high ranking (82) and climbing steadily among the world’s best.
Three of #TeamSoCal’s young guns return to Flushing Meadows this week, with Emilio Nava, Ernesto Escobedo, and Zach Svajda among those seeking to catapult in to the second round.
The 19-year old Nava (West Hills) also reached his career high ranking this summer (381) and plays only his second tournament on American soil this year. He’s also captured his first ITF title and reached the final of another – both in Spain – and he’ll meet fellow teen Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the opening round.
At #178 in the world, West Covina’s Ernesto Escobedo fell in the first round of qualifying at Wimbledon in June but rebounded with exceptional performances in Mexico and Kentucky to position himself for a US Open run. Escobedo reached the quarters in Los Cabos and the semis of a Challenger event in Lexington ahead of his arrival in New York, where he’ll face tour veteran and world #101 Pablo Cuevas for the first time.
With his repeat win at Boys Nationals in Kalamazoo, San Diegan Zachary Svajda returns to the Open after capturing headlines in his first foray two years ago. The 18-year old was a mere youngster when he pushed Paolo Lorenzi to a fifth set in 2019, winning the first two sets before fully realizing what it takes to advance in a Grand Slam, both mentally and physically. Experience will benefit Svajda in his return, where he’ll oppose Italian Marcs Cecchinato, the #81 player on tour.
Also on the men’s side, Marcos Giron (Thousand Oaks) is back in Flushing Meadows to face Antoine Hoang of France. Giron has equaled his career high ranking (64) this year, and a strong showing in New York would push the former NCAA champion to new heights. Another NCAA legend, Redondo Beach’s Steve Johnson, faces Max Marterer to kick off the Open. The two have played only once, way back in 2017 when Johnson dispatched the young German in three sets.
Expect more than just the ol’ college try from Max Cressy and Mackie McDonald, both protégés of Billy Martin at UCLA who continue to carry their Bruin spirit on the world circuit. McDonald will battle #27 David Goffin while Cressy draws #9 Pablo Carreno Busta.
In other intriguing first rounders, Frances Tiafoe and Chris Eubanks will meet in an all-American match-up, and Sam Querrey looks to upset #4 Alexander Zverev.
THE WOMEN’S DRAW
The headline was to be Serena’s quest for the record, but that story will have to wait as she recovers alongside her sister Venus, who also withdrew with injury. Fans will eagerly await their return to Flushing Meadows, where they will undoubtedly receive a long-awaited welcome and, in due time, a proper farewell.
Their absence leaves avenues of opportunity for a select few #TeamSoCal stars like Claire Liu, who meets Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei to begin play in New York. Liu, a former world #1 in junior competition, enters the tournament squarely at #100 on the WTA rankings list. The 21-year old from Thousand Oaks is coming off a semifinal run in Chicago last week. She’s already won two consecutive ITF titles earlier in 2021, her most impressive pro streak to date.
In Chicago, Liu fell to finalist Raducanu, who draws #13 Jennifer Brady at the Open. Brady, the UCLA standout, enjoyed a marvelous 2020 season that overlapped into the new year by reaching the Australian open final. She’ll look to bookend her Grand Slam calendar with a return to the final in New York.
Alycia Parks, a second product of Stella Sampras-Webster’s UCLA powerhouse, captured an ITF title in Orlando late last year. Since then, she’s played a lot of tennis – the Open will be her 20th tournament of the calendar year. This week, she’ll start with Serbia’s Olgo Danilovic – the winner likely to face #3 Naomi Osaka.
Coco Vandeweghe is back in New York, resuming her emergence as a leader in US tennis. The former world #9 currently sits at #160 and meets Italy’s Martina Trevisan in the opening round. Vandeweghe is a two-time semifinalist at both hardcourt Slams.
Perhaps the most unexpected encounters in the first round will be between former finalists Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys. The two good friends famously met in the final of the 2017, with Stephens earning her first Slam title. On Monday, they’ll decide who gets a shot to win the crown in 2021.
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