Nadal makes his third trip back to New York | ATP Tours |

Tuesday will have a special flavor in New York, where all the contenders for the Cup will take their first steps in the final Grand Slam of the season. Some of the biggest names in the locker room will go toe- to-toe in the draw at Flushing Meadows, with a special focus on two big Spanish moves that have dominated the competition.

Number two seed Rafael Nadal will light up the floodlights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the night. The Spaniard, a four-time winner of the tournament, returns to the Big Apple for the first time in three years. The welcome for the winner of 21 Grand Slam titles for the first clash with Australian Rinki Hijikata is expected to be overwhelming.

"It's a very special place in my career," admitted the Spaniard before facing the competition and looking forward to the reunion with the New York crowd. On the other side of the net, you'll find a figure who's never been on the circuit before with license to throw down a hand on an evening that promises to be magical.

You might also be interested in: Nadal: "With the resources I have, I hope to be competitive"

Carlos Alcaraz will also receive his stripes in the main stadium of Flushing Meadows. Mercian, who caused a stir a year ago with his first top-10 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the quarterfinals, has returned to New York and is already a fixture in the locker room.

The student of Juan Carlos Ferrero will make his first move as the brand new World No. 4 against Argentina's Sebastian Baez in a battle between two of the most experienced #NextGenATP members on the circuit. Carlos returns to the Big Apple as a true contender and, at 19 years old, has a chance to become the youngest No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

On a day that is all about the Latino, Diego Schwartzman will face American Jack Sock in one of the most anticipated matches in the stands. In the Louis Armstrong Stadium it could be a duel in which the strength of the local player will test the legs of the South American, who will try to use his great experience to make the first move.

In another duel that will require courage against an opponent protected from the stands, he will face the Argentine Federico Delbonis. He comes out of the qualifiers and will have to face the serve John Isner in the stands, a duel that will require the best reflexes on the court.

Check the order of play

The return of Pedro Martínez will be one of the main eye-catchers for Spanish tennis. A year earlier, in New York, the Valencian managed to win a two-set victory in an epic match that he still remembers. This version will again demand more than one set against local Christopher Eubanks.

In addition, Jaime Munar and Roberto Carballs will have a cruel duel in the only clash of Spanish compatriots that day on Court 14. The Mallorcan, who already has victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, will try to maintain his momentum at this Grand Slam. Carballés, who has been playing on hard court since March, will try to stop that momentum.

In other Spanish-language matches of the day, Spaniards Albert Ramos (vs. Norbert Gombos) and Fernando Verdasco (vs. Sunwu Kwon) and Argentine Federico Correa (vs. Talon Grixpour) will close out a guaranteed show on Tuesday.