U.S. Open R1 previews and predictions: Shapovalov vs. Fucsovics, Cerundolo vs. Arnaldi.

U.S. Open R1 previews and predictions: Shapovalov vs. Fucsovics, Cerundolo vs. Arnaldi.

Coming off a title in Winston-Salem, Marton Fucsovics will be back on the court when he goes up against Denis Shapovalov in round one of the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Francisco Cerundolo and Matteo Arnaldi are also in action.

Marton Fucsovics vs. (27) Denis Shapovalov

Shapovalov and Fucsovics will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers when they meet again in the U.S. Open first round on Tuesday. They have split their four previous encounters at two wins apiece–including one victory each on an outdoor hard court. Fucsovics won on grass in 2023 (Stuttgart), while Shapovalov prevailed on an indoor hard court in 2024 (Belgrade). Their only previous Grand Slam showdown came at the 2020 Australian Open, where Fucsovics emerged victorious via a 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-1, 7-6(3) decision.

Five years later, Fucsovics is still going strong at 33. The Hungarian just picked up his third ATP title and first on a hard court this past Saturday in Winston-Salem. Landing in the top half of the draw gives him an extra day off, and that could come in handy against an opponent who began the hard-court summer in fine form but has since done nothing. Shapovalov, the Los Cabos champion, lost his opening match in both Toronto (to Learner Tien) and Cincinnati (to Luca Nardi). This is a great opportunity for Fucsovics to stay hot.

Matteo Arnaldi vs. (19) Francisco Cerundolo

Cerundolo is a question mark heading into New York. The 19th-ranked Argentine seemed to be gaining some much-needed momentum with a fourth-round appearance in Toronto, but it ended in retirement–felled by an abdominal issue while facing Alexander Zverev.

That does not bode well for Cerundolo’s chances at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where he has never advanced past the second round. Arnaldi, on the other hand, made a run to the fourth round in 2023 and to the third round last summer. The 64th-ranked Italian is an underrated hard-court player and he clearly loves this tournament in particular. Arnaldi has a prime opportunity to win this match–and that’s even if Cerundolo is 100 percent.