Flying Start: Five Must-See First-Rounders All-American Matchups Highlight Openers

By Richard Osborn

It comes with the territory at the coveted ATP Masters 1000/WTA 1000 events: The deep draws mean you have to be at your best right out of the gate. There’s no time to ease your way into the tournament. The 2024 Cincinnati Open is no exception. Here are five intriguing openers you won’t want to miss.   

[12] Ben Shelton (USA) vs. [WC] Reilly Opelka (USA)

Reilly Opelka was just coming into his own in 2022 when he captured his third and fourth ATP titles in Dallas and Houston, and climbed to a career-best No. 17 in the rankings. But the 6-foot-11 power-server soon found himself sidelined by hip and wrist injuries, his body repeatedly letting him down. Playing only his fourth tour-level event in a span of two years, the wildcard finds himself matched up with countryman Ben Shelton in the opening round. This first-time head-to-head will feature two of the sport’s biggest servers, so keep an eye on the speed gun. Earlier this year, the southpaw Shelton edged fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the Houston final, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, briefly leapfrogging his compatriots to become the newest American No. 1, the youngest since Andy Roddick two decades ago. The former NCAA singles titlist (University of Florida) will be the favorite, but Opelka is plenty comfortable on the ATP Masters 1000 stage, having reached the Toronto final in 2021 (l. to Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-3).         

[11] Emma Navarro (USA) vs. Mirra Andreeva

It’s been some summer for onetime University of Virginia standout Emma Navarro, who toppled a pair of former major singles titlists in Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff at Wimbledon to reach the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of her young career. “It’s really exciting to know I have that level inside of me,” said Navarro, again on her game at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto. “I know I’ll keep improving on it.” But Mirra Andreeva, all of 17 years old, is enjoying a rapid rankings-rise of her own, her first career WTA crown coming last month in Iasi, Romania. The youngest woman to win a tour-level singles title since Gauff won in Parma, Italy in 2021, Andreeva broke through to her maiden Slam semi at Roland Garros, where she stunned second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4, on the terra battue.

[11] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. [WC] Brandon Nakashima (USA)

Brandon Nakashima seems to have put a rocky 2023 behind him, a year that saw him plummet from the Top 50 to outside the Top 150 in a matter of six months. His left knee no longer giving him problems, the wildcard Nakashima is once again playing with the kind of form that left the tennis world abuzz after he claimed the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2022. Last week, he outlasted 12th-ranked Tommy Paul, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1, at the ATP Masters 1000 Canada, his third win over his fellow American. However, he’s still seeking his first win against fellow Southern Californian Taylor Fritz, against whom he’s 0-2. A quarterfinalist here in 2022 and 2023, Fritz is looking to add to his Masters 1000 trophy case. His breakthrough came in Indian Wells in 2022, when despite an ankle injury suffered only hours before the final he stunned Rafael Nadal in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(5).

[16] Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. Ashlyn Krueger (USA)

Donna Vekic is riding high after her silver-medal showing at the Paris Games. At 28, the resurgent Croat, a half-decade removed from a career-high No. 19, is playing with newfound belief. Earlier this summer, she played her way into her first major semifinal at the All England Club. Not bad for a player who once considered retirement due to persistent knee problems. The lesson? “I guess to never give up,” she said. “It’s not easy at times. Yeah, I had to really dig deep inside and push myself.” But Vekic, mentored by the combo of Nikola Horvat and Pam Shriver, will have her work cut out for her from the start at the Cincinnati Open. She opens against surging qualifier Ashlyn Krueger, who reached the main draw via a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 upset of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. The 20-year-old Texan captured her first WTA title last year in Osaka, Japan, cracking the Top 100. Coached by former ATP pro Michael Joyce, she has since risen to a career-high No. 65.

[15] Holger Rune (DEN) vs. [WC] Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

Having recently cut ties with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Holger Rune is hoping to rediscover the magic under fellow Dane Kenneth Carlsen, eying a return to the Top 10 (and beyond). Still title-less in 2024, a title run at the Cincinnati Open is just the kind of boost the 21-year-old is seeking. With defending champ Novak Djokovic out of the picture, this may be his opportunity, though the way Rune sees it, that’s always the case: “There’s always opportunity, no matter who’s there,” he said. “When I won my first Masters 1000 in Paris, both Rafa and Novak played, and I won it. The opportunities are there every week. They’re in Indian Wells, they’re in Miami, they’re in Monaco, they’re in every possible tournament. It’s just about whether you can take them or not. Sinner’s great. Novak is great. Alcaraz is great. But you’ve still got to win. You’ve still got to put in the work.” That work includes a tough opener against a healthy Matteo Berrettini, who after a string of injury setbacks is once again collecting titles on the ATP Tour. The 28-year-old Italian already has three on the year, including back-to-back trophies in Gastaad and Kitzbuhel.