(http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2012-08-24/201208241345827103013.html)

Top Five Factors: Best Men's Match-ups, First Round

By Nicholas J. Walz

Friday, August 24, 2012

An initial look at the 2012 US Open singles draws provides several intriguing match-ups, as America's Grand Slam arrests the attention of sports fans worldwide starting Monday morning. USOpen.org takes a look at five must-see matches in the US Open first round, featuring some of the best players in the world facing formidable opponents right at the start of main-draw play – and the likelihood of survival.

Roger Federer (1) vs. Donald Young

Seventeen Grand Slam titles vs. an American fresh off a 17-match losing streak. After breaking his career-worst winless drought this week in Winston-Salem, Young was rewarded with a date against the top-seeded Federer. Despite his struggles in 2012, Young should still represent a more challenging obstacle for the Swiss "Maestro" – remember that Young reached the round of 16 in Queens just last year as a wild card – than either Bjorn Phau or a qualifier in the second round. This will be Federer and Young's first professional meeting.

Andy Murray (3) vs. Alex Bogomolov, Jr.

Another American (well, sort of – for the first time in his career, Bogomolov will compete under the flag of his birth country, Russia, after six main-draw appearances as a U.S. player) who could put a scare into a heavier favorite. The two traded hard-court Masters wins in 2011: "Bogie" beat Murray in straight sets in Miami, 6-1, 7-5, while the Scot claimed victory in Cincinnati's third round, 6-2, 7-5, en route to a title. Bogomolov was voted the ATP's Most Improved Player at the end of 2011, jumping 132 ranking spots for his first-career top-50 finish, though he's stumbled to an 11-24 match record in 2012. To knock off the newly minted Olympic gold medalist, he'll have to recapture a bit of 2011 magic, when he reached the US Open's third round.

Tomas Berdych (6) vs. David Goffin

The 21-year-old Goffin received a groundswell of write-in support from the fans when USOpen.org named its five "unusual suspects" of the men's singles draw, likely based on the Belgian's improbable run as a lucky loser this year in Roland Garros – a round-of-16 appearance, culminated with taking a set off of his idol, Federer. Berdych, meanwhile, has looked anything but a top-10 player this summer, losing in both the first round of Wimbledon and the Summer Olympics on grass, his best surface. It's Goffin's debut in the US Open main draw, so expectations should be tempered somewhat, yet upset potential is there.

Juan Martin del Potro (7) vs. David Nalbandian

It's an all-Argentine affair in the first round, as 2009 champ del Potro tries to regain his crown first by facing off against the 30-year-old Nalbandian. Del Potro has had a strong 2012 thus far on the big stages, reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne and Roland Garros, the round of 16 at Wimbledon and a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in London, defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Nalbandian intrigues because of a sharp knowledge of his opponent as a fellow countryman and some past success against del Potro (two hard-court wins, albeit both coming four years ago) and in Flushing Meadows (a semifinal in 2003 and a quarterfinal in 2005 to his credit). A factoid to impress your friends: It's likely the only match you'll see this year featuring two men who have defeated Roger Federer in a US Open singles contest (Nalbandian, 2003; del Potro, 2009).

Nicolas Almagro (11) vs. Radek Stepanek

Tough test for the Spaniard Almagro, as he gets the feisty 33-year-old Czech a year after being bounced as the No. 10 seed in the US Open first round by wild card Julien Benneteau. Stepanek has taken both career contests against Almagro, who has won all 12 of his career ATP titles on clay and has never advanced beyond the third round in Queens. This summer, Stepanek gave top-seeded Novak Djokovic a tough out in the Wimbledon third round, taking the first set before defeat, and notched big wins on the hard courts against del Potro in Toronto and Juan Monaco in Cincinnati. It should be a tight affair, with Almagro needing to acquit himself better on America's biggest stage.

Honorable Mention:

Brian Baker vs. Jan Hajek

It has been an arduous seven-year journey back to prominence for Baker, but here he is, playing in his first US Open main draw since 2005. Elbow and hip surgeries derailed the 26-year-old to the point where he was off the professional grid from 2007-11 and turned to coaching, but he's since upwardly rallied through the USTA Pro Circuit and qualifying tournaments to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2012. No doubt, Baker will have a large contingent of supporters in Flushing Meadows.