U.S. Open 2011, Day 1: Federer, Fish, Sharapova, Venus All Advance

Mardy Fish made quick and easy work of his U.S. Open first-round opponent, finishing off Tobias Kamke with an ace on triple-match point to win 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. Fish, the top-seeded American at No. 8, threw in a nice between-the-legs shot during the match’s final game. He needed just 23 minutes to close out the final set.

The 29-year-old is trying to win his first Grand Slam, having never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any of tennis’s four biggest events. His best U.S. Open performance was in 2008, when he went to the quarterfinals and lost to Rafael Nadal.

No. 27 seed Marin Cilic won the first two sets of his U.S. Open first-round match against unseeded American Ryan Harrison, but need a tiebreaker in the third set to close it on Monday. Cilic eventually won the match 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (6) after getting a mini-break on the final point of the tiebreaker. There were 16 break points in the match, with Cilic successfully breaking Harrison seven times and Harrison winning four break points.

Cilic did not have to play particularly well to win in straight sets. He committed 41 unforced errors, had four double-faults and only got 46 percent of his first-serves in, registering just one ace. He was able to somewhat offset that with 37 winners, but he mostly let Harrison beat himself. The 19-year-old, who was playing in just his second U.S. Open, connected on just 42 percent of his first serves, had seven double-faults to just one ace, registered just 11 winners to 37 unforced errors, and giving Cilic nine break-point opportunities.

Monday is the first day of the 2011 U.S. Open, and brings with it a lot of big names facing overmatched opponents and qualifiers looking to make some noise. Here’s a rundown of the matches on the 2011 U.S. Open schedule fans should be watching.

1. Tobias Kamke vs. No. 8 Mardy Fish -- First at Arthur Ashe Stadium -- This could be Mardy Fish’s best chance at a Grand Slam event, and Fish making a run at the U.S. Open could be a huge shot in the arm for American men’s tennis. Making quick work of Tobias Kamke, a German journeyman, would set Fish off on the right foot. Prediction: Fish in four sets.

2. No. 3 Roger Federer vs. Santiago Giraldo -- Fourth at Arthur Ashe Stadium -- Roger Federer’s last chance to win a Grand Slam event in 2011 begins with Santiago Giraldo. Can the Swiss master show the form of old? Prediction: Federer in three sets.

3. Heather Watson vs. No. 3 Maria Sharapova -- Second at Arthur Ashe Stadium -- Maria Sharapova may have her best chance at a Grand Slam event in years at Flushing Meadows, and should cruise past Britain’s Heather Watson. If Sharapova doesn’t, though, it could be a sign that she will have to grind through this tournament. Prediction: Sharapova in two sets