Monday's US Open first round pits Katie Volynets against Linda Noskova on hard. Linda Noskova has won 8 of the last 10. Katie Volynets is rolling — 5 straight wins, 8 of 10 in recent play.

The serve is where this match separates: Noskova has been winning 69.3% of first-serve points to Volynets's 57.3%, and on hard that gap compounds fast. The edge belongs to Noskova — real, but not the kind you take for granted at this level.