What to watch at the US Open: Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff continue title defense

Tatjana Maria vs. Coco Gauff (3)

Coco Gauff began her US Open title defense with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva. Despite winning all of her service games, Gauff faced many break points and recorded six double faults. The American leads the head-to-head 1-0 after defeating Maria 2023 in Auckland and will look to build on her first-round serve with another solid performance.

Laslo Djere vs. Novak Djokovic (2)

For the second year in a row, Novak Djokovic is under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He beat Radu Albot in a routine 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 first-round match, but the world number two made some uncharacteristic unforced errors as he adjusted to the hard courts. Djokovic has a 2-0 record against fellow countryman Laslo Djere, including coming from a two-set deficit at last year's US Open.

Louis Armstrong

Time Event: 11am ET, 8am PT
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Taylor Townsend vs Paula Badosa (26)

Paola Badosa started her US Open campaign in a dominant fashion, winning 6-0, 6-3 against Viktorija Golubic. Taylor Townsend also won in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 against Martina Trevisan. The two faced each other at the Australian Open this year, where Badosa won in straight sets, but Townsend is back on the rise and fully believing in her singles game for the first time in a long time. This promises to be one of the matches of the day.

Alexandre Müller (WM) vs. Alexander Zverev (4)

Alexander Zverev won his first round in four sets against fellow German Maximilian Marterer. Like Djokovic, he admitted his game was not at a good level, but the No. 4 seed took the win and kept his chances of winning his first Grand Slam title alive. The closest he came was in New York, where he lost to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final.

Alexander Zverev has reached two Grand Slam finals and lost both (Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

Lucia Bronzetti vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2)

Is there a player in women's tennis who is more confident on hard court than Aryna Sabalenka? The world No. 2 got off to a strong start at the US Open with a straight-set win over Priscilla Hon, hitting 27 winners and making just 16 unforced errors. If that repeats, it will be difficult for Lucia Bronzetti, who advanced after her opponent Lulu Sun was a set down, to handle that power.

Victoria Azarenka (20) against Clara Burel

This is a clash of two players who had to win three-set matches in their early rounds, with Victoria Azarenka and Clara Burel also coming from a set down. Burel recovered against 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, while Azarenka overcame a spirited performance from Yulia Starodubtseva. Azarenka leads the clash 1-0, having defeated Burel in Brisbane this year.

Matteo Berrettini vs Taylor Fritz (12)

This could be the second round match of the men's draw. Matteo Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist, is probably the most dangerous unseeded player in the men's draw. He will face 12th seed Taylor Fritz, who has won all three previous meetings, most recently at the 2023 United Cup.

Matteo Berrettini returns after a series of injuries and illnesses. (Dylan Buell / Getty Images)

Grandstand

Time Event: 11am ET, 8am PT
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Barbora Krejcikova (8) vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Q)

Barbora Krejcikova won her opening match in straight sets against Marina Bassols Ribera and the Czech said she is still adapting her game to hard courts after the Paris Olympics, which were played on clay. While Krejcikova has a 2-0 record against Ruse, the Romanian served better and converted more break points in her first-round match. Krejcikova will at least be happy to be on a show court after being underwhelmed by her seat on Court 5 against Bassols Ribera.

Zheng Qinwen (7) against Erika Andreeva

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic gold medalist, had a tough first-round match against American Amanda Anisimova. As the match progressed, Zheng's serve improved and she won a total of 73 percent of her first serve points. Andreeva, meanwhile, defeated world number 37 Yuan Yue and will be hoping for a repeat against Zheng.

Zheng Qinwen's Olympic gold was China's first ever in tennis. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Ben Shelton (13) against Roberto Bautista Agut

Last year's US Open semifinalist, Ben Shelton, started this year's tournament with an impressively smooth win over 2020 US Open champion Thiem. Now he faces another ATP Tour veteran, Roberto Bautista Agut. Shelton defeated Bautista Agut at the Australian Open earlier this year, and if he can serve as well as he did against Thiem (91 percent first serve points won), the American will likely advance.

Casper Ruud (8) against Gael Monfils

Casper Ruud and Gael Monfils are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head match. Ruud defeated Monfils in Indian Wells in a thrilling three-set match. Monfils will look to make a better start against Ruud than he did against Diego Schwartzman, where he lost the first set. It will be a close match.

Casper Ruud is a three-time Grand Slam finalist and has lost all three – including the 2022 US Open (Mike Stobe / Getty Images)

Around the site

Time Event: 11am ET, 8am PT
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Francisco Cerundolo (29) against Tomas Martin Etcheverry

First up, Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry will play an all-Argentinian match on Court 12. Etcheverry leads the head-to-head 1-0, but these two players have never played on hard courts before.

Ekaterina Alexandrova (29) vs. Iva Jovic (WM)

Seeded second on Court 12, 16-year-old Iva Jovic pulled off the biggest upset in the women's singles to date, defeating Magda Linette in the first round to become the youngest American to win a main draw match at the US Open.

It will be difficult for Jovic to repeat her win over 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. But one bright spot is that Jovic had a higher first serve return win rate than Alexandrova (60 percent to 53 percent). If she can hold her own against Alexandrova's serve, the American teenager has a chance.

Daria Kasatkina (12) vs. Peyton Stearns

Peyton Stearns, seeded fourth on Court 5, won her first-round match in straight sets against Lesia Tsurenko. No. 12 seed Daria Kasatkina did the same against Jaqueline Cristian. This is their fifth match against each other, with Kasatkina leading the head-to-head 3-1. Their last match on hard courts was at the Australian Open, where Kastakina won in three sets. Expect another close encounter here.

Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti (18)

Third on Court 5 is Lorenzo Musetti, the Olympic bronze medalist who beat Reilly Opelka in four sets in his first-round match. He is in form and does well against players with strong serves, chips and slice returns on his feet. Musetti has a 2-1 record against Kecmanovic and won the last time they faced each other on hard court at the 2023 Davis Cup. This should be close.

Peyton Stearns hopes to contribute to the US campaign in Flushing Meadows (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

The highlight on Tuesday

Have you never hit someone behind your back? What are you doing with your life?

Required reading

(Top photo of Coco Gauff: Al Bello / Getty Images)