On the grandest stage in American tennis tonight: 16-year-old Coco Vandeweghe.

The Carlsbad resident's opening-round match against Jelena Jankovic is to be one of the features of the U.S. Open's first day. It is to lead off the Arthur Ashe Stadium portion of the tournament's evening session at 4 p.m. PDT, and thus should be part of USA Network's television coverage, which begins at 4.

The second match on the evening program is between two American men, James Blake and Donald Young.

Vandeweghe, a leading junior player, received a wild card into the Open's women's singles draw. Jankovic, from Serbia, is the No. 2 seed.

– JERRY MAGEE

Nadal: no pressure

Rafael Nadal said he felt no added pressure entering today's U.S. Open as world No. 1 after finally overtaking Roger Federer at the top of the rankings.

“The pressure is the same,” the Spaniard said. “When you want to win the goal is still the same and the pressure the same.

“I'm very happy to be No. 1. It's a big satisfaction after a long time being No. 2.”

Nadal spent a record 160 successive weeks as No. 2 before ending the Swiss master's record reign of 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

The 22-year-old Nadal routed Federer in the French Open final and claimed a thrilling five-set victory over the Swiss in the Wimbledon final before crowning a glorious run with Olympic gold in Beijing.

Nadal, beaten by compatriot David Ferrer in the fourth round here last year, has yet to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open or win a hardcourt grand slam.

By contrast, Federer has won the last four U.S. Opens.