Ninth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova has been playing some scintillating tennis in 2016 at the age of 31-years-old, the hunger hasn't diminished. Therefore, the Russian believes that she can still win some more Grand Slam titles.
Francesca Schiavone is remarkably continuing to play tennis at the age of 36. However, the results haven't been consistent for the veteran Italian who is languishing at a lowly 95 in the world.
Kuznetsova is no stranger to New York as the champion from 2004 and runner-up in 2007. She is at home on these hard courts and used to the lively crowd.
Unfortunately, Schiavone is in the twilight stage of her career. But if she didn't have the love for the game anymore, a retirement would have occurred a few years ago.
Kuznetsova's notable hard court results leading up to New York
The two-time Grand Slam singles champion won the title in Sydney at the start of the year, which was Kuznetsova's 16th time in the winner's circle. She failed to back up her title win because Kateryna Bondarenko upset her in the second round of the Australian Open.
However, the Russian once again recorded mixed results during the back-to-back North American Premier Mandatory hard court events at Indian Wells and in Miami.
American Coco Vandeweghe upset the 2004 US Open champion in straight sets in the Californian desert. On the other hand, there wasn't too much time to dwell on that defeat, as the Miami Open was next and it was a successful tournament.
Kuznetsova came back from a set down to defeat three-time defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round in Miami, followed by victories over Grand Slam semifinalists Ekaterina Makarova and Timea Bacsinszky in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.
A red-hot two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka was too much for the Russian to handle in the championship match, but there were plenty of positives for Kuznetsova to take from that match.
After an average clay court and grass court season, Simona Halep defeated Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals in Montreal, and Johanna Konta dispatched her in a three sets, war of attrition at the Rio Olympics.
The Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati was another quarterfinal finish, registering three sets win over Alison Riske and Bacsinszky but an in-form Karolina Pliskova defeated Kuznetsova in straight sets and went on to clinch the title.
Schiavone's notable results
Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion (runner-up in 2011) has struggled with injuries in 2016, and she was on an amazing run by participating in 61 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments dating back to the US Open in 2000.
Unfortunately, that run ended due to a defeat in the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open this year.
However, there was some joy for the three-time Fed Cup winner at the Rio Open, where the victory in the Brazilian city was Schiavone's seventh WTA title and ended her title drought in three years.
Lucie Safarova, Kristina Mladenovic, and Elise Mertens handed the Italian, three consecutive first round exits at her hometown event in Rome, the French Open and at the inaugural Mallorca Open respectively.
Schiavone made the second round of Wimbledon but was completely outplayed by 2014 semifinalist Simona Halep.
Their history
The two Grand Slam champions are no stranger to each other as they have met 15 times on the WTA tour with Kuznetsova leading 9-6 in their storied rivalry.
They have never met on a grass court with Kuznetsova having a commanding 7-2 lead on hard courts, Schiavone leads 1-0 on the carpet surface and 3-2 on clay.
Kuznetsova won their first three encounters in straights sets, starting this run from Doha in 2003, Dubai the following year and in the semifinals in Warsaw.
Schiavone would claim their next two matches in straight sets in their only meeting on carpet in the Russian's hometown of Moscow in 2005, and in Amelia Island, the following year but Kuznetsova retired in the second set.
The two-time Grand Slam champion would reassert her authority by winning their next four matches in a row, that including their first Grand Slam meeting in the fourth round of the French Open in 2006, Doha, New Haven and in the Fed Cup final in 2007.
The 2010 French Open champion secured her third victory over her younger opponent in the quarterfinals of Zurich but failed to defeat her in their next meeting in the quarterfinals of Sydney in 2008.
The 36-year-old won their next two meetings in the Fed Cup semifinals in three sets in 2009 and was victorious in their marathon fourth round encounter at the Australian Open in 2011 with a 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 scoreline.
Kuznetsova avenged that loss in her most recent victory over Schiavone in Dubai in 2011. The Italian won their most recent encounter in the second round of the French Open last year which was another marathon between the pair ending 6-7, 7-5, 10-8.
Who wins?
The 31-year-old has been playing the better tennis between the duo as of late, and comes into this match as the firm favourite, on the other hand, Schiavone rises to the occasion for Grand Slams and this could be her last appearance in New York.
Kuznetsova possesses a two-handed backhand in her game, and she will be able to extend the rallies and wear down Schiavone, the Russian is extremely fit and has the endurance to go on for hours in matches.
The two-time quarterfinalist in New York's game is slightly similar to her Russian counterpart, both players have an all-court game, and her backhand is a peach to watch.
Unfortunately for Schiavone, the lack of matches on hard courts against the big players could go against her, and the 2004 US Open champion is sharpened on this surface and will be raring to go and cause a few players some problems in the draw.
There could be a few breaks in this match as both players are not the best servers on tour, however, Kuznetsova is the better returner of the two players.
This match is scheduled second on the Louis Armstrong Stadium following the men's first round match between Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva and Croatia's 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
They are placed in a tough section of the draw, and the winner of this intriguing first round match will face two-time US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki or Taylor Townsend in the second round.
Prediction: Kuznetsova to win in straight sets.