US Open Tennis 2016: Monday Night Draw TV Schedule, Start Times and Picks

If you only looked at the respective rankings of the four players in Monday's night draw at the 2016 U.S. Open, there would appear to be little chance for drama. 

No. 2 Andy Murray takes on No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov in the first match under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, followed by No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska against unseeded Ana Konjuh. Sure, Dimitrov is ranked and only 20 spots behind Murray, but that can represent a significant gulf in quality in tennis. Konjuh is a cool 88 spots behind Radwanska's elite WTA ranking, but the 18-year-old is only just getting started in her career.

The underdogs in these matches have played well against their more esteemed opponents in the recent past, and there are no guarantees in the second week of a Grand Slam event. 

Day 8's prime-time coverage from Flushing Meadows, New York, runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with live-streaming available on WatchESPN.

No. 2 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

Dimitrov's mere presence in the round of 16 should provide a boost to his career, considering he's struggled over the past year-and-a-half after teasing the tennis world with a standout campaign in 2014. His fourth-round appearance in New York ties his best mark at the U.S. Open and is the furthest he's made it in a Grand Slam since he reached the fourth round at the 2015 Australian Open. 

It's been a fairly tough slog for Dimitrov, who needed five sets to top Jeremy Chardy in the second round and four to move past Joao Sousa on Saturday. Though he's ground through some tough moments in this tournament, Dimitrov's spirits are soaring. 

"I have started to enjoy the process again. I'm enjoying the work again. I'm enjoying waking up in the morning early to come to practice. I'm enjoying doing the ice baths again. I'm enjoying pretty much everything that I do," he said, per the Agence France-Presse (h/t FirstPost.com).

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

By contrast, Murray has mostly breezed through the competition, with his only dropped set coming in the third round against Paolo Lorenzi. Murray is perhaps enjoying the finest summer of his career, having won Wimbledon and earned a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

In 2012, Murray won gold in London and won the U.S. Open for his first Slam title but was runner-up at Wimbledon. A win at the U.S Open would make this a season to remember for Murray, who so often in his career has played second fiddle to the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Murray could be reaching his apex at a time when the three aforementioned stars are dealing with injuries, age and poor form, and he'll be motivated to seize the moment. 

Before Murray thinks about winning his fourth Slam, though, he has to get past Dimitrov. The Bulgarian is 3-6 all-time against Murray and won their most recent matchup, a 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the third round of the Miami Open in late March. That contest was on a hard court, which should give Dimitrov extra confidence heading into this one. 

Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

There is also the matter of Dani Vallverdu, Murray's friend and former training assistant who is now working with Dimitrov. Any extra insight Dimitrov can glean from Vallverdu should come in handy against Murray.

Considering Dimitrov is only recently showing signs of breaking out of his slump and Murray has played some of the best tennis of his career as of late, one might expect a lopsided affair in favor of the Scot on Monday.

However, Dimitrov's history of success, confidence and considerable skills should make plenty of trouble for Murray, though the latter will eventually come away victorious. 

Prediction: Murray in five sets

No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. Ana Konjuh (CRO)

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

If you happened to catch Konjuh's second-round matchup against Radwanska at Wimbledon, then you know two things: Her presence in the round of 16 at the U.S. Open is hardly a fluke, and she's capable of pulling off the upset on Monday. 

Radwanska won that thriller at Wimbledon, 6-2, 4-6, 9-7, the only professional meeting between the two up to this point. Konjuh battled right to the end and came close to pulling off the stunner, but eventually bad luck helped seal her fate, per ExcelleSports.com's Lindsay Gibbs: 

"

Konjuh, who is only 18, served for the match twice and held three match points before turning her ankle by stepping on the ball at 7-7 in the third set. She might have lost the match even without the injury, but it was an absolutely brutal way to be taken out of what could have potentially been her breakthrough match.

Luckily, the Croat wasn’t injured too badly, and she’s earned herself a chance at redemption, this time in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. This is the first time the former junior No. 1 has ever been in the second week of a major, and it’s not likely to be her last time.

"

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Konjuh has already made her mark in this tournament, upsetting No. 20 Kiki Bertens in the first round and taking out veteran Varvara Lepchenko in three sets in the third round to set up the date with Radwanska. 

However, she's running into a ravenous version of Radwanska, as the Polish star hasn't yet dropped a set at this U.S. Open and has made it look easy most of the time. 

Radwanska set herself up for a deep U.S. Open run by winning the Connecticut Open at the end of August. She's 36-13 overall in singles play on the year and hasn't done worse than the fourth round at any Slam event in 2016. Radwanska reached the semifinals of the other hard-court Slam, the Australian Open, which bodes well for her in New York.

Konjuh put up an excellent fight against Radwanska in the past, and fans should expect more of the same on Monday. While an upset is a distinct possibility, it's easy to give this one to Radwanska in the end, as her service game will benefit from the fast court and likely be just enough to see her through to the quarterfinals.

Prediction: Radwanska in three sets