Kerber's quest for No. 1 continues.
WHAT HAPPENED: Reigning Australian Open champion and No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber made quick work of a slow-starting No. 14 seed Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in five years. The win also keeps Kerber in the running for the distinguished title of No. 1 on the WTA Tour rankings should she win the trophy on Saturday.
“I think it was a tough match, Petra is a really great player. It’s really nice to be back here, it’s a special tournament,” Kerber said. “Everything started for me here in 2011, reaching the semifinal, and this time I feel like a new tennis player, enjoying every single moment and taking every challenge to play my game.”
Using a strong baseline game that was near flawless in the first set, Kerber earned an early break of serve that gave her enough of a lead to pull ahead and secure the first stanza. A listless Kvitova struggled to find her groove in the rallies, as she struck 17 unforced errors compared to Kerber’s four in the first set. It was an uncharacteristic showing for the former world No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion.
But Kvitova's fortunes soon changed and her performance improved in set two, as the Czech began to get into the rallies and connect on her shots, often leaving Kerber scrambling behind the baseline.
In fact, 25 of Kvitova’s 32 winners came in the second set, the majority of which she fired off the forehand wing.
Neither player conceded a service game until the end of the second set, as a tiebreak loomed. Kvitova, however, could not hold on, and a disappointing double fault ended her chances to extend the match and handed Kerber the win.
Kvitova finished the match with 43 unforced errors compared to Kerber’s 8.
WHAT IT MEANS: Kerber is one of two seeds remaining in her quarter of the draw after four rounds, and after her upcoming duel with No. 7 seed and 2015 runner-up Roberta Vinci in the round of 16, there will only be one. Kerber and Vinci have split their last four meetings, their last going Kerber’s way in Beijing in 2013.
The US Open is where Kerber first had her big Grand Slam breakthrough, reaching the semifinals in 2011 before falling to Sam Stosur. She has not surpassed the fourth round since then, but now has a chance to play for another semifinal. Should she win the title, or should Serena Williams lose before reaching the final, Kerber will finally attain the coveted No. 1 ranking.
Kvitova’s quest to surpass the quarterfinals of the only Grand Slam that has eluded her remains unrealized. Her previous best US Open result came last year, when she fell to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta in the quarters.
THE QUESTION: Kerber thrived on the hard courts of Australia at the beginning of the season to claim the championship. Can she do it here in New York to create a hard-court bookend for her 2016 season?
WHAT HAPPENED: Reigning Australian Open champion and No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber made quick work of a slow-starting No. 14 seed Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in five years. The win also keeps Kerber in the running for the distinguished title of No. 1 on the WTA Tour rankings should she win the trophy on Saturday.
“I think it was a tough match, Petra is a really great player. It’s really nice to be back here, it’s a special tournament,” Kerber said. “Everything started for me here in 2011, reaching the semifinal, and this time I feel like a new tennis player, enjoying every single moment and taking every challenge to play my game.”
Using a strong baseline game that was near flawless in the first set, Kerber earned an early break of serve that gave her enough of a lead to pull ahead and secure the first stanza. A listless Kvitova struggled to find her groove in the rallies, as she struck 17 unforced errors compared to Kerber’s four in the first set. It was an uncharacteristic showing for the former world No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion.
But Kvitova's fortunes soon changed and her performance improved in set two, as the Czech began to get into the rallies and connect on her shots, often leaving Kerber scrambling behind the baseline.
In fact, 25 of Kvitova’s 32 winners came in the second set, the majority of which she fired off the forehand wing.
Neither player conceded a service game until the end of the second set, as a tiebreak loomed. Kvitova, however, could not hold on, and a disappointing double fault ended her chances to extend the match and handed Kerber the win.
Kvitova finished the match with 43 unforced errors compared to Kerber’s 8.
WHAT IT MEANS: Kerber is one of two seeds remaining in her quarter of the draw after four rounds, and after her upcoming duel with No. 7 seed and 2015 runner-up Roberta Vinci in the round of 16, there will only be one. Kerber and Vinci have split their last four meetings, their last going Kerber’s way in Beijing in 2013.
The US Open is where Kerber first had her big Grand Slam breakthrough, reaching the semifinals in 2011 before falling to Sam Stosur. She has not surpassed the fourth round since then, but now has a chance to play for another semifinal. Should she win the title, or should Serena Williams lose before reaching the final, Kerber will finally attain the coveted No. 1 ranking.
Kvitova’s quest to surpass the quarterfinals of the only Grand Slam that has eluded her remains unrealized. Her previous best US Open result came last year, when she fell to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta in the quarters.
THE QUESTION: Kerber thrived on the hard courts of Australia at the beginning of the season to claim the championship. Can she do it here in New York to create a hard-court bookend for her 2016 season?
Rafael Nadal vs Lucas Pouille Highlights.
The Joker wins the last match of the night....He beats the Brit Kyle Edmund.....6-2...6-1...6-4
Williams Sisters On Collision Course.
Serena and Venus Williams, the sisters with 29 grand slams and a stack of records between them, will try to maintain a collision course at the US Open on Monday when they play their fourth-round matches.
World number one and defending champion Serena, trying to break the record of 22 grand slam titles she shares with Steffi Graf, plays number 52 Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.
Sixth seed Venus, twice the champion in New York, faces Karolina Pliskova, the big-serving 10th seed from the Czech Republic.
Victory for both would put them one win away from a semi-final meeting at Flushing Meadows. Top seed Serena is still managing the right shoulder injuryshe suffered at the Rio Olympic Games last month but says she is ready to hit peak form.
“I feel OK,” she said when asked to grade her performance in week one. “So far, so good.
“I don't feel like I'm Serena out there yet, but hopefully she'll come around the second week.”
Venus is into the fourth round for the second straight season, having gone four years without passing round three while she learned to cope with Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes chronic fatigue and muscle soreness.
“It's just a lot of will power,” Venus said. “That's really what it is. I started to feel better more consistently this year so I'm always trying to find things to help me feel my best.
“But even if I'm not feeling great, I still manage to get a good fight in out there.”
Men’s second seed Andy Murray, the Wimbledon and Olympic champion, takes on Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the quarter-finals.
Former champion Juan Martin del Potro, in the fourth round for the first time since 2012 after three operations on his left wrist, plays eighth seed Dominic Thiem.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka, sixth seed Kei Nishikori and women’s fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska are also in fourth-round action.
Serena and Venus Williams, the sisters with 29 grand slams and a stack of records between them, will try to maintain a collision course at the US Open on Monday when they play their fourth-round matches.
World number one and defending champion Serena, trying to break the record of 22 grand slam titles she shares with Steffi Graf, plays number 52 Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.
Sixth seed Venus, twice the champion in New York, faces Karolina Pliskova, the big-serving 10th seed from the Czech Republic.
Victory for both would put them one win away from a semi-final meeting at Flushing Meadows. Top seed Serena is still managing the right shoulder injuryshe suffered at the Rio Olympic Games last month but says she is ready to hit peak form.
“I feel OK,” she said when asked to grade her performance in week one. “So far, so good.
“I don't feel like I'm Serena out there yet, but hopefully she'll come around the second week.”
Venus is into the fourth round for the second straight season, having gone four years without passing round three while she learned to cope with Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes chronic fatigue and muscle soreness.
“It's just a lot of will power,” Venus said. “That's really what it is. I started to feel better more consistently this year so I'm always trying to find things to help me feel my best.
“But even if I'm not feeling great, I still manage to get a good fight in out there.”
Men’s second seed Andy Murray, the Wimbledon and Olympic champion, takes on Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the quarter-finals.
Former champion Juan Martin del Potro, in the fourth round for the first time since 2012 after three operations on his left wrist, plays eighth seed Dominic Thiem.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka, sixth seed Kei Nishikori and women’s fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska are also in fourth-round action.
Thank you indy!
Former champs lead Labor Day workforce.
It’s Labor Day, that uniquely American holiday that celebrates work by giving everyone the day off. Of course, that tradition doesn’t apply here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where a riveting roster of tennis’ top stars will be clocking in for work, each determined to complete a job begun one week ago.
Former US Open champs Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Murray, and Juan Martin del Potro lead a lengthy list of outstanding candidates for the position of 2016 US Open champion into action on Day 8. Every one of these top talents is eager to add to their respective resumes – and to extend their US Open employment into a two-week gig.
Women’s top seed Serena Williams, who pretty much rewrites a page of the record book every time she sets foot on court, is poised to make yet another inscription Monday. The six-time US Open champ earned her 307th career Grand Slam singles win on Saturday, edging her past Martina Navratilova for most major wins by a woman, and tying her with Roger Federer for the most major wins by any player. One more win, and she stands alone.
There’s loads of history on the line for the greatest player in the women’s game in this event. Should Williams win the 2016 US Open, it will give her 23 career Slam singles crowns, breaking the tie she now holds with Steffi Graf for most in the Open era.
But first things first; Monday, the top seed takes on Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, who is into the fourth round here for the first time in her career. The 28-year-old, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon this year, and twice a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros, has had an easy advance to this point, winning her first three matches without dropping a set. In fact, Shvedova has lost two fewer games (13) to this point than Williams, who’s also yet to lose a set.
The two have clashed four times, with Williams winning each meeting, including a 6-3, 6-1 third-round thumping of the Kazakh here in 2013. Shvedova’s advance has been impressive, but this close to history, there’s little chance that she’ll prevent Williams from scribbling her name atop another page of the record book.
In two, the top seed is on to the quarters.
The resurgence of Venus Williams has continued – impressively – through the first week of this Flushing fortnight. The two-time US Open champ, who this summer reached the semis at Wimbledon and the final at Stanford, has showed extraordinary focus in reaching the fourth round here for the 14th time in her career. After a tough three-set first-round match, the No. 6 seed has swept through her last two matches, losing a total of just eight games. Now 36, the elder Williams sister owns more than a few pages of the record book herself. This is her 72nd main-draw appearance in a major, an Open era record.
Monday, she’ll look to continue her forward progress as she takes on No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova, whose appearance in the fourth round here allows her to shed herself of her own record book page – prior to this, she was the only Top 20 player on the women’s side never to have reached the fourth round of a Slam. Pliskova, ranked No. 11, has won two titles this year, including a win at the Cincinnati stop on the Emirates Airline US Open Series.
The two have met just once, with Williams notching the win at the hard court event in Zhuhai, China, in 2015. This is a bigger stage, and a larger occasion, and Williams has had much more experience in this spotlight. This should be a close one, but the sixth seed should find the stuff to close it out. In three, Williams moves on.
In terms of resurgence, there’s no better – or happier – tale than that of del Potro, who seems as surprised as anyone to find himself in the second week of this tournament for the first time since reaching the quarters here in 2012. The 27-year-old Argentine’s struggle with wrist injuries and surgeries is well-documented, making his late summer surge all the more remarkable. On the heels of knocking out Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to capturing a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, he’s cruised into the fourth round here without dropping a set.
The 2009 US Open champ will get his best test so far Monday when he takes on No. 8 seed Dominic Thiem, who’s in Flushing’s fourth round for the second time in three years. The 23-year-old Austrian reached his first career major semifinal this year at Roland Garros, and his four tournament titles in 2016 ties him with Murray for second-most on the men’s tour, trailing only Djokovic’s seven.
Del Potro and Thiem have met just once, with the Argentine winning on clay in Madrid this spring. On a different surface, expect the same result. Give Thiem a set, but del Potro gets the win.
Men’s second seed Murray is into the fourth round here for the sixth consecutive year, and has now reached the fourth round or better in 23 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. The 29-year-old Brit, champion here in 2012, won his third career major crown at Wimbledon this summer, and a second consecutive gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He is trying to become just the fourth man in the Open era to reach the final of all four majors in a calendar year.
Monday night, he’ll look to take another step toward that goal as he takes on No. 22 seed Grigor Dimitrov, the 25-year-old Bulgarian who’s into the fourth round here for just the second time in his career. Dimitrov, whose best career Slam showing was a run to the Wimbedon semis in 2014, has displayed plenty of grit in reaching this point, rallying back from two-sets-to-one down to win his second round match in five, and scoring a third-round win in four.
He’ll need every bit of that resolve against Murray, who’s played from Day 1 like a man with his eyes on this tournament’s second Sunday. Murray owns a 6-3 edge in their career meetings, although the Bulgarian won their last encounter, beating the Brit in Miami in March. This will be no day at the beach for either, but Murray is riding a serious wave of momentum that figures to carry him much deeper in this event. In three, the second seed is on to the quarters.
It’s Labor Day, that uniquely American holiday that celebrates work by giving everyone the day off. Of course, that tradition doesn’t apply here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where a riveting roster of tennis’ top stars will be clocking in for work, each determined to complete a job begun one week ago.
Former US Open champs Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Murray, and Juan Martin del Potro lead a lengthy list of outstanding candidates for the position of 2016 US Open champion into action on Day 8. Every one of these top talents is eager to add to their respective resumes – and to extend their US Open employment into a two-week gig.
Women’s top seed Serena Williams, who pretty much rewrites a page of the record book every time she sets foot on court, is poised to make yet another inscription Monday. The six-time US Open champ earned her 307th career Grand Slam singles win on Saturday, edging her past Martina Navratilova for most major wins by a woman, and tying her with Roger Federer for the most major wins by any player. One more win, and she stands alone.
There’s loads of history on the line for the greatest player in the women’s game in this event. Should Williams win the 2016 US Open, it will give her 23 career Slam singles crowns, breaking the tie she now holds with Steffi Graf for most in the Open era.
But first things first; Monday, the top seed takes on Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, who is into the fourth round here for the first time in her career. The 28-year-old, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon this year, and twice a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros, has had an easy advance to this point, winning her first three matches without dropping a set. In fact, Shvedova has lost two fewer games (13) to this point than Williams, who’s also yet to lose a set.
The two have clashed four times, with Williams winning each meeting, including a 6-3, 6-1 third-round thumping of the Kazakh here in 2013. Shvedova’s advance has been impressive, but this close to history, there’s little chance that she’ll prevent Williams from scribbling her name atop another page of the record book.
In two, the top seed is on to the quarters.
The resurgence of Venus Williams has continued – impressively – through the first week of this Flushing fortnight. The two-time US Open champ, who this summer reached the semis at Wimbledon and the final at Stanford, has showed extraordinary focus in reaching the fourth round here for the 14th time in her career. After a tough three-set first-round match, the No. 6 seed has swept through her last two matches, losing a total of just eight games. Now 36, the elder Williams sister owns more than a few pages of the record book herself. This is her 72nd main-draw appearance in a major, an Open era record.
Monday, she’ll look to continue her forward progress as she takes on No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova, whose appearance in the fourth round here allows her to shed herself of her own record book page – prior to this, she was the only Top 20 player on the women’s side never to have reached the fourth round of a Slam. Pliskova, ranked No. 11, has won two titles this year, including a win at the Cincinnati stop on the Emirates Airline US Open Series.
The two have met just once, with Williams notching the win at the hard court event in Zhuhai, China, in 2015. This is a bigger stage, and a larger occasion, and Williams has had much more experience in this spotlight. This should be a close one, but the sixth seed should find the stuff to close it out. In three, Williams moves on.
In terms of resurgence, there’s no better – or happier – tale than that of del Potro, who seems as surprised as anyone to find himself in the second week of this tournament for the first time since reaching the quarters here in 2012. The 27-year-old Argentine’s struggle with wrist injuries and surgeries is well-documented, making his late summer surge all the more remarkable. On the heels of knocking out Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to capturing a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, he’s cruised into the fourth round here without dropping a set.
The 2009 US Open champ will get his best test so far Monday when he takes on No. 8 seed Dominic Thiem, who’s in Flushing’s fourth round for the second time in three years. The 23-year-old Austrian reached his first career major semifinal this year at Roland Garros, and his four tournament titles in 2016 ties him with Murray for second-most on the men’s tour, trailing only Djokovic’s seven.
Del Potro and Thiem have met just once, with the Argentine winning on clay in Madrid this spring. On a different surface, expect the same result. Give Thiem a set, but del Potro gets the win.
Men’s second seed Murray is into the fourth round here for the sixth consecutive year, and has now reached the fourth round or better in 23 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. The 29-year-old Brit, champion here in 2012, won his third career major crown at Wimbledon this summer, and a second consecutive gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He is trying to become just the fourth man in the Open era to reach the final of all four majors in a calendar year.
Monday night, he’ll look to take another step toward that goal as he takes on No. 22 seed Grigor Dimitrov, the 25-year-old Bulgarian who’s into the fourth round here for just the second time in his career. Dimitrov, whose best career Slam showing was a run to the Wimbedon semis in 2014, has displayed plenty of grit in reaching this point, rallying back from two-sets-to-one down to win his second round match in five, and scoring a third-round win in four.
He’ll need every bit of that resolve against Murray, who’s played from Day 1 like a man with his eyes on this tournament’s second Sunday. Murray owns a 6-3 edge in their career meetings, although the Bulgarian won their last encounter, beating the Brit in Miami in March. This will be no day at the beach for either, but Murray is riding a serious wave of momentum that figures to carry him much deeper in this event. In three, the second seed is on to the quarters.
US Open.org Day 8 picks.
MEN
(2) Andy Murray vs. (22) Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov has been enjoying a resurgence this summer, posting a 10-4 record on hard courts. Murray leads their head-to-head by 6-3, but Dimitrov has beaten him twice on hard courts and prevailed in their most recent meeting, this March at the Miami Open. Murray looked spotty in his four-set win over Paolo Lorenzi on Saturday, but he always raises his level in the second week of Grand Slams. Expect the No. 2 seed to be pushed early but to find another gear to prevail in four sets.
(3) Stan Wawrinka d. Illya Marchenko
Wawrinka is lucky to be here after fighting off a match point in his third-round win over Dan Evans, but Marchenko is in the same boat after defeating an ailing Nick Kyrgios via retirement. Minus the win over Kyrgios, Marchenko hasn’t beaten a Top 50 player since January. Wawrinka comfortably won their only previous meeting this March and the same will take place on Monday. Wawrinka in three sets.
(6) Kei Nishikori d. (21) Ivo Karlovic
With his huge serve, Karlovic is a player that nobody wants to face. But if anybody has to, a player with a solid return like Nishikori is a perfect choice. Although Karlovic leads their head-to-head by 2-1, one of those wins was by retirement and they haven’t played in more than two years. It’s also safe to say that Nishikori is a much different player from the last time they squared off. Karlovic did well to achieve his best US Open result ever this tournament, but Nishikori will advance in four sets.
(8) Dominic Thiem d. (WC) Juan Martin del Potro
Del Potro has modestly passed Thiem off as the favorite in their upcoming match, but the Argentine won their only previous meeting this May on the clay courts of Madrid. He’s also in red-hot form, while Thiem has had a relatively modest summer for his recent standard. There will be plenty of entertaining rallies in this match, but del Potro will prevail in four sets.
WOMEN
(1) Serena Williams vs. Yaroslava Shvedova
A win on Monday will give Serena 308 Grand Slam singles wins, more than any other tennis player in history. She leads her head-to-head against Shvedova by 4-0. Although she’s not immune to shocking upsets in New York (see: Roberta Vinci), it won’t happen here. Serena in two sets.
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Ana Konjuh
Radwanska and Konjuh were deadlocked at 7-7 in the third set of their second-round match this year at Wimbledon, when the Croat turned her ankle after stepping on a ball. She’s looking for a chance to gain revenge now and has been in top form throughout the tournament. Radwanska has inexplicably faded at the fourth-round stage of the US Open throughout her career, posting an 0-4 record. But she’s feeling confident after prevailing two weeks ago in New Haven and appears ready to finally right the ship. Radwanska in three tough sets.
(5) Simona Halep vs. (11) Carla Suarez Navarro
Fans watching this match better pack a lunch because it’s guaranteed to go the distance. The pair are even in their head-to-head at 5-5, and seven of those matches have gone three sets. Halep leads their head-to-head on hard courts by 4-1, but Suarez Navarro’s lone win came in the second round of the 2011 US Open. The Spaniard will have her chances to take the match, but Halep will come through in three long sets.
(6) Venus Williams vs. (10) Karolina Pliskova
Venus has seemingly turned back the clock a decade this tournament, producing two routine wins in Arthur Ashe Stadium in her past two matches. She’s also in familiar territory at the second week of a Grand Slam, while the big-serving Pliskova is in the fourth round at a major for the first time. She’s done well to overcome that hurdle, but Venus will prevail in two tight sets.
Matt Cronin's Pick of the Day: Venus Williams vs. Karolina Pliskova
Venus Williams will face off against No. 10 Karolina Pliskova, and it should be a heck of a match. The two have played only once, back in the fall, when the American overcame the Czech in Zhuhai, China, 7-5, 7-6. Pliskova is very powerful, and she catches fire, but she is somewhat slow and can check out on occasion. Still, she has played better during the past month; in Cincinnati, she beat Garbiñe Muguruza and Angie Kerber to win it all.
Pliskova lost in the third round at the Australian Open, she reached the semis in Indian Wells and the quarters of Stuttgart. She didn't do much on clay, but on grass, she won Nottingham and reached the final at Eastbourne before losing early at Wimbledon.
So far this Open, she has been very consistent and crushing the ball. She has a huge serve and she is willing to go for the lines.
Venus, however, knows the US Open inside and out, having won two titles but also lost some amazing matches. She was, and is, locked in.
So who wins? Venus is the favorite, slightly. She has improved over the past two years, and is still learning at age 36. She may not be fast as she used to be, but she is intelligent on court and can crack the ball when she wants to. Yes, Pliskova won’t give in. But Venus is on rhythm and will be patient. It will take two hours-plus, but the two-time champion will win, 7-5 in the third set.
MEN
(2) Andy Murray vs. (22) Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov has been enjoying a resurgence this summer, posting a 10-4 record on hard courts. Murray leads their head-to-head by 6-3, but Dimitrov has beaten him twice on hard courts and prevailed in their most recent meeting, this March at the Miami Open. Murray looked spotty in his four-set win over Paolo Lorenzi on Saturday, but he always raises his level in the second week of Grand Slams. Expect the No. 2 seed to be pushed early but to find another gear to prevail in four sets.
(3) Stan Wawrinka d. Illya Marchenko
Wawrinka is lucky to be here after fighting off a match point in his third-round win over Dan Evans, but Marchenko is in the same boat after defeating an ailing Nick Kyrgios via retirement. Minus the win over Kyrgios, Marchenko hasn’t beaten a Top 50 player since January. Wawrinka comfortably won their only previous meeting this March and the same will take place on Monday. Wawrinka in three sets.
(6) Kei Nishikori d. (21) Ivo Karlovic
With his huge serve, Karlovic is a player that nobody wants to face. But if anybody has to, a player with a solid return like Nishikori is a perfect choice. Although Karlovic leads their head-to-head by 2-1, one of those wins was by retirement and they haven’t played in more than two years. It’s also safe to say that Nishikori is a much different player from the last time they squared off. Karlovic did well to achieve his best US Open result ever this tournament, but Nishikori will advance in four sets.
(8) Dominic Thiem d. (WC) Juan Martin del Potro
Del Potro has modestly passed Thiem off as the favorite in their upcoming match, but the Argentine won their only previous meeting this May on the clay courts of Madrid. He’s also in red-hot form, while Thiem has had a relatively modest summer for his recent standard. There will be plenty of entertaining rallies in this match, but del Potro will prevail in four sets.
WOMEN
(1) Serena Williams vs. Yaroslava Shvedova
A win on Monday will give Serena 308 Grand Slam singles wins, more than any other tennis player in history. She leads her head-to-head against Shvedova by 4-0. Although she’s not immune to shocking upsets in New York (see: Roberta Vinci), it won’t happen here. Serena in two sets.
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Ana Konjuh
Radwanska and Konjuh were deadlocked at 7-7 in the third set of their second-round match this year at Wimbledon, when the Croat turned her ankle after stepping on a ball. She’s looking for a chance to gain revenge now and has been in top form throughout the tournament. Radwanska has inexplicably faded at the fourth-round stage of the US Open throughout her career, posting an 0-4 record. But she’s feeling confident after prevailing two weeks ago in New Haven and appears ready to finally right the ship. Radwanska in three tough sets.
(5) Simona Halep vs. (11) Carla Suarez Navarro
Fans watching this match better pack a lunch because it’s guaranteed to go the distance. The pair are even in their head-to-head at 5-5, and seven of those matches have gone three sets. Halep leads their head-to-head on hard courts by 4-1, but Suarez Navarro’s lone win came in the second round of the 2011 US Open. The Spaniard will have her chances to take the match, but Halep will come through in three long sets.
(6) Venus Williams vs. (10) Karolina Pliskova
Venus has seemingly turned back the clock a decade this tournament, producing two routine wins in Arthur Ashe Stadium in her past two matches. She’s also in familiar territory at the second week of a Grand Slam, while the big-serving Pliskova is in the fourth round at a major for the first time. She’s done well to overcome that hurdle, but Venus will prevail in two tight sets.
Matt Cronin's Pick of the Day: Venus Williams vs. Karolina Pliskova
Venus Williams will face off against No. 10 Karolina Pliskova, and it should be a heck of a match. The two have played only once, back in the fall, when the American overcame the Czech in Zhuhai, China, 7-5, 7-6. Pliskova is very powerful, and she catches fire, but she is somewhat slow and can check out on occasion. Still, she has played better during the past month; in Cincinnati, she beat Garbiñe Muguruza and Angie Kerber to win it all.
Pliskova lost in the third round at the Australian Open, she reached the semis in Indian Wells and the quarters of Stuttgart. She didn't do much on clay, but on grass, she won Nottingham and reached the final at Eastbourne before losing early at Wimbledon.
So far this Open, she has been very consistent and crushing the ball. She has a huge serve and she is willing to go for the lines.
Venus, however, knows the US Open inside and out, having won two titles but also lost some amazing matches. She was, and is, locked in.
So who wins? Venus is the favorite, slightly. She has improved over the past two years, and is still learning at age 36. She may not be fast as she used to be, but she is intelligent on court and can crack the ball when she wants to. Yes, Pliskova won’t give in. But Venus is on rhythm and will be patient. It will take two hours-plus, but the two-time champion will win, 7-5 in the third set.
Delpo: ‘I can be dangerous again’.
It became a familiar sight. A grainy snapshot of Juan Martin del Potro in a hospital gown, a post-surgery thumbs-up to his more than two-and-a-half million Twitter followers. Or sporting an arm cast while rehabbing in the gym; leaving the Mayo Clinic after yet another invasive procedure.
During all those agonizing months, a stretch that included a trio of left wrist surgeries in March 2014, January 2015 and June 2015, the widely admired Argentine could only fantasize about reuniting with the sport he had been in love with since he first picked up a racquet at the age of 7. For the man who had become known La Torre De Tandil in his homeland, a nod to his 6-foot-6, 214-pound frame and birthplace, it was like helplessly stalling in the pits while the competition races past.
Only del Potro’s pit stop lasted the better part of three years.
Outside of his darkest moments, del Potro held on to the belief that he would once again return to the ATP World Tour, healthy, if not the same player he was when he toppled the seemingly indomitable Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would climb back into the upper echelons of the sport as quickly as he has in 2016.
When he resumed his life as a touring professional this past winter, his impact was immediate. He reached the Delray Beach semis in his very first event. He pushed aside Grigor Dimitrov and Gilles Simon in reaching the final four in Stuttgart. He stunned Stan Wawrinka in the second round at Wimbledon. And before he knew it, he was standing on the podium at the Rio Olympics, wins over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal behind him, a sliver medal draped around his neck.
Though he hadn’t played the US Open since falling in five sets to Lleyton Hewitt in the second round in 2013, del Potro returned to Flushing Meadows, ranked a lowly No. 142 and relying on a wild card, as if he had never missed a beat. He hasn’t dropped a set in advancing through the first three rounds, ousting countryman Diego Schwartzman, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6; American Steve Johnson, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2; and No. 11 seed David Ferrer, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Heading into his round-of-16 matchup with eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem, he’s used his most potent weapons – that authoritative serve and forehand – to dictate the proceedings. In nine sets, he has 32 aces and 34 forehand winners, and has won 79 percent of his first-serve points. Not bad for a guy who was limited to 10 matches or fewer in 2010, 2014 and 2015, and only returned to the practice courts last November.
“I didn't expect to be in the second week of this tournament,” he told USOpen.org. “I didn't expect to get a medal in Rio. I didn't expect to play at this level in this part of the year. I just want to be free with my wrist, trying to play in a good level as I did a couple of years ago. But I think I'm surprised with my level at the moment. I'm surprising the guys on tour, my colleagues. That's great because I'm seeing I can be dangerous in the future once again.”
Not everyone is surprised.
“Never a doubt,” deadpanned Dimitrov, who’s winless against del Potro in three tries. “I never doubted that.
All the people who’ve been around me have said the same thing. I mean, with that forehand, you can close your eyes, hit the ball, it can go in. Definitely one of the best hitters in the game.”
How has he done it?
“Working hard,” said del Potro. “I never give up. I trust on myself. I trust my doctors, my team, my physical trainers. I know how hard I worked to be in this moment now. I know how can I get better in the future if I still working hard. That's it. Nothing magic, nothing strange. Just work hard.”
It became a familiar sight. A grainy snapshot of Juan Martin del Potro in a hospital gown, a post-surgery thumbs-up to his more than two-and-a-half million Twitter followers. Or sporting an arm cast while rehabbing in the gym; leaving the Mayo Clinic after yet another invasive procedure.
During all those agonizing months, a stretch that included a trio of left wrist surgeries in March 2014, January 2015 and June 2015, the widely admired Argentine could only fantasize about reuniting with the sport he had been in love with since he first picked up a racquet at the age of 7. For the man who had become known La Torre De Tandil in his homeland, a nod to his 6-foot-6, 214-pound frame and birthplace, it was like helplessly stalling in the pits while the competition races past.
Only del Potro’s pit stop lasted the better part of three years.
Outside of his darkest moments, del Potro held on to the belief that he would once again return to the ATP World Tour, healthy, if not the same player he was when he toppled the seemingly indomitable Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would climb back into the upper echelons of the sport as quickly as he has in 2016.
When he resumed his life as a touring professional this past winter, his impact was immediate. He reached the Delray Beach semis in his very first event. He pushed aside Grigor Dimitrov and Gilles Simon in reaching the final four in Stuttgart. He stunned Stan Wawrinka in the second round at Wimbledon. And before he knew it, he was standing on the podium at the Rio Olympics, wins over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal behind him, a sliver medal draped around his neck.
Though he hadn’t played the US Open since falling in five sets to Lleyton Hewitt in the second round in 2013, del Potro returned to Flushing Meadows, ranked a lowly No. 142 and relying on a wild card, as if he had never missed a beat. He hasn’t dropped a set in advancing through the first three rounds, ousting countryman Diego Schwartzman, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6; American Steve Johnson, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2; and No. 11 seed David Ferrer, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Heading into his round-of-16 matchup with eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem, he’s used his most potent weapons – that authoritative serve and forehand – to dictate the proceedings. In nine sets, he has 32 aces and 34 forehand winners, and has won 79 percent of his first-serve points. Not bad for a guy who was limited to 10 matches or fewer in 2010, 2014 and 2015, and only returned to the practice courts last November.
“I didn't expect to be in the second week of this tournament,” he told USOpen.org. “I didn't expect to get a medal in Rio. I didn't expect to play at this level in this part of the year. I just want to be free with my wrist, trying to play in a good level as I did a couple of years ago. But I think I'm surprised with my level at the moment. I'm surprising the guys on tour, my colleagues. That's great because I'm seeing I can be dangerous in the future once again.”
Not everyone is surprised.
“Never a doubt,” deadpanned Dimitrov, who’s winless against del Potro in three tries. “I never doubted that.
All the people who’ve been around me have said the same thing. I mean, with that forehand, you can close your eyes, hit the ball, it can go in. Definitely one of the best hitters in the game.”
How has he done it?
“Working hard,” said del Potro. “I never give up. I trust on myself. I trust my doctors, my team, my physical trainers. I know how hard I worked to be in this moment now. I know how can I get better in the future if I still working hard. That's it. Nothing magic, nothing strange. Just work hard.”
I never seen so many guys not finish a match....You would have to break my leg....Juan walks off Dominic.
Retirement sends Delpo back to quarters.
WHAT HAPPENED: Fan-favorite and 2009 titlist Juan Martin del Potro is back into the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in four years, benefitting from No. 8 seed Dominic Thiem’s retirement, trailing 6-3, 3-2 on Day 8 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
At first it looked as if del Potro might be the one pulling out. Serving at 1-all, 40-30 in the opening set, the wild-card Argentine, ranked No. 142 in the world, offered up a double fault then winced, grasping at his right shoulder. Two points later, after Thiem scooped a picture-perfect lob over his towering 6-foot-6 frame to convert the first break of the match, del Potro signaled for a trainer and was soon receiving a shoulder massage.
It sure looked as if the snake-bitten Argentine’s body, relegated to the sidelines for more than two years due to a string of wrist surgeries, was betraying him again. But to his credit, the 27-year-old returned to the court and notched two service breaks of his own in the sixth and eighth games to reverse his course.
With his opponent up a break in the second set, Thiem held for 3-2, then called for some medical attention himself. Trainers attended to his right knee, but after just one hour, 12 minutes of action, the 23-year-old Austrian was unable to continue.
'I know I am far away from home," said del Potro, a native of Tandil, Argentina, in his post-match, on-court interview, "but I feel at home in this stadium, in New York."
Asked why New Yorkers have embraced him so openely, del Potro said, "We have a good connection – New Yorkers, American fans, Argentinean fans and me. I was really sad last year watching this tournament on TV."
Del Potro advances to face either No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka or 63[SUP]rd[/SUP]-ranked Ukrainian Illya Marchenko.
WHAT IT MEANS: Boy, has Thiem played a lot of tennis in 2016. The rising Austrian had taken the court an ATP-leading 68 times on the year coming into the round of 16. Of course, that’s a byproduct of his meteoric success. The more you win, the more you play.
Thiem has no less than four ATP World Tour titles (Buenos Aires, Acapulco, Nice, Stuttgart) to his credit this year, an impressive showing for an athlete who turned 23 only days ago. But he also came into the final Slam of the year without back-to-back wins since reaching the Halle semis in June. One must wonder if the talented baseliner has overplayed and if the workload simply caught up with him on Day 8 in Flushing Meadows. Look for Thiem to rethink his schedule in 2017. He’ll likely be a bit more choosy in the future.
QUESTION: At No. 142, is del Potro destined to become the lowest-ranked Grand Slam finalist in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings?
WHAT HAPPENED: Fan-favorite and 2009 titlist Juan Martin del Potro is back into the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in four years, benefitting from No. 8 seed Dominic Thiem’s retirement, trailing 6-3, 3-2 on Day 8 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
At first it looked as if del Potro might be the one pulling out. Serving at 1-all, 40-30 in the opening set, the wild-card Argentine, ranked No. 142 in the world, offered up a double fault then winced, grasping at his right shoulder. Two points later, after Thiem scooped a picture-perfect lob over his towering 6-foot-6 frame to convert the first break of the match, del Potro signaled for a trainer and was soon receiving a shoulder massage.
It sure looked as if the snake-bitten Argentine’s body, relegated to the sidelines for more than two years due to a string of wrist surgeries, was betraying him again. But to his credit, the 27-year-old returned to the court and notched two service breaks of his own in the sixth and eighth games to reverse his course.
With his opponent up a break in the second set, Thiem held for 3-2, then called for some medical attention himself. Trainers attended to his right knee, but after just one hour, 12 minutes of action, the 23-year-old Austrian was unable to continue.
'I know I am far away from home," said del Potro, a native of Tandil, Argentina, in his post-match, on-court interview, "but I feel at home in this stadium, in New York."
Asked why New Yorkers have embraced him so openely, del Potro said, "We have a good connection – New Yorkers, American fans, Argentinean fans and me. I was really sad last year watching this tournament on TV."
Del Potro advances to face either No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka or 63[SUP]rd[/SUP]-ranked Ukrainian Illya Marchenko.
WHAT IT MEANS: Boy, has Thiem played a lot of tennis in 2016. The rising Austrian had taken the court an ATP-leading 68 times on the year coming into the round of 16. Of course, that’s a byproduct of his meteoric success. The more you win, the more you play.
Thiem has no less than four ATP World Tour titles (Buenos Aires, Acapulco, Nice, Stuttgart) to his credit this year, an impressive showing for an athlete who turned 23 only days ago. But he also came into the final Slam of the year without back-to-back wins since reaching the Halle semis in June. One must wonder if the talented baseliner has overplayed and if the workload simply caught up with him on Day 8 in Flushing Meadows. Look for Thiem to rethink his schedule in 2017. He’ll likely be a bit more choosy in the future.
QUESTION: At No. 142, is del Potro destined to become the lowest-ranked Grand Slam finalist in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings?
Venus crash and burns.....Wins the 1st set then falls apart.....Karolina Pliskova pulls the upset.....4-6...6-4...7-6
