By Tony Fairbairn
- Aryna Sabalenka [2] v Qinwen Zheng [7]
- Alexander Zverev [4] v Taylor Fritz [12]
- Emma Navarro [13] v Paula Badosa [26]
- Grigor Dimitrov [9] v Frances Tiafoe [20]
NEW YORK, USA – Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to maintain her incredible form as she takes on Qinwen Zheng for a place in the US Open semi-finals.
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Aryna Sabalenka [2] v Qinwen Zheng [7] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Aryna Sabalenka [2] v Qinwen Zheng [7] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 2-0 |
| US Open 2024 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $530,000 |
| Third on Arthur Ashe Stadium (Midnight BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Aryna Sabalenka is arguably the favourite for the US Open title as the world number two continued her incredible form with a dominant win over Elise Mertens. The consistency, precision and controlled aggression from Sabalenka has been impressive as the Australian Open champion seeks a third Grand Slam title in New York. Although Sabalenka’s mental fortitude has been impressive over the last couple of years, Sabalenka knows that past mental scars in the latter stages of Grand Slams can always come to bite her when she least expects it and will hope to avoid those moments once again with the pressure set to intensify.
Sabalenka’s mental strength will receive a stern test as she takes on Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng in a rematch from the Australian Open final. The seventh seed is in the best form of her career so far with her confident and athletic play seeing her be one of the most clinical players on the tour right now. This was proven in her last match as she repeated the result of the Olympic final against Donna Vekic in what was the latest finish to a women’s match at the US Open. After having a vulnerable last few months, Zheng has now found her belief and the Chinese number one will be hoping that her new-found confidence will take her to a first Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka will aim to dominate on serve as she will use the forehand to not allow Zheng any time to pick her spots from the baseline. Meanwhile Zheng will aim to force Sabalenka into wide positions in the court as she will use variety to force shorter balls from Sabalenka. Zheng’s improved confidence and form makes this a very interesting match but Sabalenka should have too much quality in order to reach a fourth consecutive US Open semi-final.
Prediction: Sabalenka in three sets.
Alexander Zverev [4] v Taylor Fritz [12] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Alexander Zverev [4] v Taylor Fritz [12] | H2H: Zverev leads 5-4 |
| US Open 2024 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $530,000 |
| Second on Arthur Ashe Stadium (Not before 18:00 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Alexander Zverev overcame a red-hot start from American Brandon Nakashima in order to reach the US Open quarter-finals. The fourth seed is into his fourth US Open quarter-final and the former finalist enters this match full of confidence and belief with there being no Novak Djokovic to worry about in the semi-finals this time around. However being the favourite hasn’t always worked for Zverev with the German faltering under pressure at times and the former finalist will hope that those nerves don’t reoccur at this year’s US Open as he bids for a ninth Grand Slam semi-final.
A tricky quarter-final awaits Zverev as he takes on the in-form Taylor Fritz who has gone under the radar at this year’s US Open. The American has been in sensational form this year as he blitzed Matteo Berrettini in the second round and then followed that with a four set victory over Casper Ruud. Two marquee matches that haven’t appeared on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Fritz has been quite content on quietly doing damage on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Now Fritz bids to reach new ground as he searches for a maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
Zverev will aim to use his serve to get hold of the rally early on as he will use the backhand in order to force Fritz into deeper positions. Meanwhile Fritz will aim to be aggressive on the forehand side as he looks to finish points off at the net. This is a tough match to call with both players in good form but Fritz has been playing some impressive tennis so far in this tournament and will fancy his chances to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final considering he beat Zverev at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Fritz in four sets.
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Emma Navarro [13] v Paula Badosa [26] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Navarro [13] v Paula Badosa [26] | H2H: Badosa leads 1-0 |
| US Open 2024 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $530,000 |
| First on Arthur Ashe Stadium (17:00 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
A massive win for Emma Navarro as she stunned defending champion Coco Gauff in three sets to reach her first US Open quarter-final. It was the second consecutive Grand Slam event that Navarro has beaten Gauff as the 13th seed’s ability to soak up pressure and expose her opponent’s court positioning once again paid off. The American is confident and reassured about her game while maintaining an impressive work ethic as Navarro will continue to be efficient in her quest for Grand Slam glory.
In order for Navarro to reach the semi-finals, she will have to defeat an in-form Paula Badosa. After struggles with injuries and mental health Badosa has come out of her struggles with new-found energy as the 26th seed has backed up her Washington title with a US Open quarter-final. Now the Spaniard has belief and confidence that she can go all the way as Badosa will aim to take advantage of a big opportunity and reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Navarro will continue to rely on her defensive skills as she aims to force Badosa into playing one extra ball and will aim to take the forehand early. Meanwhile Badosa will use her backhand to dictate from the baseline as she will look to redirect Navarro’s attacking shots. This will be a match between who can defend better and Badosa’s experience could be a big factor in this match.
Prediction: Badosa in three sets.
Grigor Dimitrov [9] v Frances Tiafoe [20] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Grigor Dimitrov [9] v Frances Tiafoe [20] | H2H: Dimitrov leads 3-1 |
| US Open 2024 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $530,000 |
| Fourth on Arthur Ashe Stadium (01:30 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
It’s a second US Open quarter-final for Grigor Dimitrov as he continues his incredible season in New York. The Bulgarian outlasted Andrey Rublev in a five set classic to reach the last eight as he keeps getting better the older he gets. Now with the most experience in the draw, Dimitrov is hoping his impressive season continues as he aims for a third Grand Slam semi-final.
A tough task awaits for Dimitrov in the form of American Frances Tiafoe who is into the quarter-finals at the US Open for a third consecutive year. After winning an epic contest with Ben Shelton, Tiafoe backed up his win by defeating Alexei Popyrin which is a great testament to how the American has improved his confidence. Having entered the US Open by reaching the Cincinnati final, Tiafoe’s confidence has gone from strength to strength and now looks to make a return to the US Open semi-finals.
Dimitrov will look to be aggressive by taking the backhand early and forcing Tiafoe into playing one extra ball. Meanwhile Tiafoe will continue his improvement on return as he will look to finish points off at the net. This will be a contest between two confident and in-form players with Tiafoe’s recent form putting him as slight favourite heading into this late night showdown.
Prediction: Tiafoe in four sets.
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