US Open Tennis 2015: Monday Night Draw TV Schedule, Start Times and Picks
It's a privilege to play under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York. Capping Monday's action at the 2015 U.S. Open will be two of the top players in the men's and women's singles draw fighting off long-shot challengers looking to make surprise appearances in the tournament quarterfinals.
In the women's draw, it's No. 5 Petra Kvitova taking on unranked British hopeful Johanna Konta. On the men's side, it's the indefatigable No. 2 Roger Federer against top-American John Isner, ranked No. 13 by the ATP.
Both Konta and Isner have tall tasks ahead of them, but anything is possible when the pressure is on. Here's the schedule for Monday's night draw, with predictions and a preview of Federer-Isner.
| 7 p.m. | Round of 16 | No. 5 Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. Johanna Konta (GBR) | ESPN2 | Kvitova in three |
| Round of 16 | No. 13 John Isner (USA) vs. No. 2 Roger Federer (SUI) | ESPN2 | Federer in four |
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Note: Live streaming can be found at WatchESPN. The Isner-Federer match will begin after the conclusion of Kvitova-Konta.
Preview
John Isner vs. Roger Federer
Few things in tennis are as enjoyable as an in-form Federer. His grace under pressure, confident returns and smooth swings make elite tennis look all too simple at times. Federer's yet to drop a set this year in Flushing Meadows, eliminating Leonardo Mayer, Steve Darcis and Philipp Kohlschreiber in that order.
If Federer's longstanding brilliance weren't a daunting enough challenge for Isner, the Swiss master has also taken to using a new serve-and-half-volley return dubbed "SABR." Here's his explanation of the shot via the Express' Uche Amako:
"We were just kidding around and that's when I said, I'm going to chip and charge and just keep the points short (because) I'm tired’. That's when I started to run in and hit returns. I hit a couple for a winner. They were like ridiculous. Benoit laughed, I laughed, Severin laughed.
I did it again in the next practice just to see if it actually would still work again. Then I tried it the next practice and it still worked. That's when Severin said ‘Well, what about using it in a match?’
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How Federer deals with Isner's big serve will be a key to the match. As ESPN.com's Peter Bodo explains, Isner's frame forces him to force the issue in his matches:
"Isner has always been wise enough to recognize his limitations, most of which have to do with his 6-foot-10 frame and a wingspan that puts a California condor's to shame. Movement and deft racket work are not his forte, so he prefers to serve big, force the action and get points over with before they really get started. That will put a high premium on the battle that will take place at the serving notch.
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It's a strategy working well in New York. Isner hasn't yet dropped a set in the 2015 U.S. Open. Isner notched 24 aces against Malek Jaziri in the first round and 17 more facing Mikhail Youzhny in the second. Both matches were breezy, quick wins for Isner.
In the third round against Jiri Vesely, Isner smacked 21 aces before his Czech opponent retired at 6-3, 6-4. It only looks like his serve is getting stronger; it will be his best chance of upsetting Federer.
Current form notwithstanding, history doesn't paint a bright picture for Isner. The 30-year-old American is just 1-4 against Fed in his career. That lone win, however, at the 2012 Davis Cup, counts among the highlights of Isner's career.
"I think that was the best win of my career and one of the best matches I have ever played, hands down," Isner said, via Bodo. "I played extremely well that day. I'm going to need to do that again on Monday."
Isner will have the crowd, youth and some extra rest on his side Monday night after the short match with Vesely. Federer, the old dog teaching himself new tricks, hasn't won the U.S. Open since 2008, although he did make a semifinal appearance last year.
Isner's best run in Flushing Meadows is a quarterfinal appearance in 2011. He's on the cusp of matching his best effort, but Federer will cut down his big serves with his own "SABR" and work his way to a four-set victory.
Match stats courtesy of USOpen.org.
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