By Chris Oddo | Monday September 5, 2017
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are one step from their first meeting in New York. We preview their quarterfinal matchups along with the rest of the field.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
And then there were eight. It’s quarterfinal time at the U.S. Open and we’re previewing all eight matchups on the men’s and women’s side.
Let’s get it started with the women.
[13] Petra Kvitova vs. [9] Venus Williams
Career H2H: Kvitova leads, 4-1
If you remember the last time Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams met on the Grand Slam stage, you can understand why we are so excited about this match. It was the fifth of five consecutive three-setters between the pair, all won by Kvitova, and it was a classic Wimbledon third-round match that featured 23 straight holds before Kvitova finally broke through against Williams in the final game.
Can we expect another classic in New York? Why not. Each player has demonstrated magnificent form thus far at the Open. Kvitova is the only player remaining to have not dropped a set, while Williams reached her 12th career U.S. Open round of 16 with a convincing three-set win over Carla Suarez Navarro.
If Kvitova can produce the scintillating tennis that she used to take down Garbine Muguruza in Day 7, she should have the upper hand over Williams, but if the Kvitova level dips, Williams will be there to capitalize, just as she has done all season.
Sloane Stephens vs. [16] Anastasija Sevastova
Career H2H: First meeting
The Summer of Sloane continues in New York at full throttle as the American has now won 13 of 15 matches since dropping her first two of the season. It’s been a remarkable run for Stephens, who had to miss nearly a full 52 weeks with a left foot injury that was surgically repaired this winter. Apparently, the time off has done her well. She’s refreshed, engaged and playing some of the best tennis of her career.
But she’ll have her hands full with Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. The No.16 seed took out Maria Sharapova in the round of 16 to reach her second consecutive quarterfinal in New York. She may not be a household name but Sevastova has proven that she’s an elite player over the last year.
[1] Karolina Pliskova vs. [20] CoCo Vandeweghe
Career H2H: Tied, 2-2
With the No.1 ranking on the line Karolina Pliskova will look to continue her good fortunes at the place where here Grand Slam success officially began. Pliskova reached the final in New York last season, taking out both Williams sisters in the process. It was her first trip to the second week at a major and she used that success as a springboard to the No.1 ranking.
But can she fight off American powerhouse CoCo Vandeweghe, a player that is firing all cylinders in New York? The American is coming to her own as a player and as a big match performer—she is into the quarterfinals at a major for the third time this season, and has split her two previous matches with No.1-ranked players.
[15] Madison Keys vs. Kaia Kanepi
Career H2H: Kanepi leads, 1-0
Madison Keys is hitting her stride in New York, and after she notched a dramatic three-set victory over No.4-seeded Elina Svitolina on Monday night in round of 16 action, it feels like he might be a player of destiny. Keys blasted 46 winners to knock Svitolina out of contention for the No.1 ranking but it was the American's play down the stretch, where she reeled off four games on the trot to close off Svitolina, that really impressed.
Like Keys, who has endured two wrist surgeries this year, Kanepi has been an inspiration in New York. The Estonian reached her sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal with a dominating victory over Daria Kasatkina on Monday. Ranked 418 in the world, Kanepi had to use a protected ranking to gain entrance into the qualifying draw. She's struggled for two years with debilitating foot injuries. Look at her now.
And now, let’s get to the men.
[1] Rafael Nadal vs. Andrey Rublev
Career H2H: First meeting
After a slowish start, Rafael Nadal appears to be heating up in the second week of the U.S. Open. The Spaniard waltzed past Alexandr Dolgopolov on Day 8, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1, to book his spot in the U.S. Open’s quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. Nadal, a two-time champion, will face the youngest and most surprising ATP quarterfinalist in 19-year-old Andrey Rublev for a spot in the semifinals.
It may seem like an easy task for a 15-time major champion, but Nadal is well aware of the fact that Rublev is on an impressive run this summer. Rublev got his first Grand Slam win this year at Australia, and he won his first title this summer at Umag. He’s a steady baseliner that blankets the court and can penetrate off of both wings. It’s probably too early in his Grand Slam career to expect an upset from Rublev, but it will be interesting to see if he can find a way to remain competitive with Nadal.
[1] Roger Federer vs. [24] Juan Martin del Potro
Career H2H: Federer leads, 16-5
Roger Federer appears to be back in vintage form after consecutive straight-set wins over Feliciano Lopez and Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third and fourth rounds, and he’ll bid to reach the semifinals in New York for the 12th time when he faces Juan Martin del Potro for the 22nd time. The Argentine notched the biggest win of his career against Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open final, and every time he comes to New York it seems like he is resonating with that memory.
On Monday he engineered a massive comeback from two sets to love down to defeat Dominic Thiem in five sets. Now the question is whether or not the 2017 version of Del Potro can recover in time to give Federer a run for his money on Wednesday. The Swiss has taken three straight against Del Potro, including a lopsided straight-sets victory at Miami this spring.
[17] Sam Querrey vs. [28] Kevin Anderson
Career H2H: Querrey leads, 8-6
Ever since Sam Querrey upset Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon and parlayed that victory into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, he’s been nothing but money on the court. The American reached his first career major semifinal at Wimbledon this summer, and he also defeated Rafael Nadal for the Acapulco title—one of three for Querrey on the season.
After his epic thrashing of Mischa Zverev in the round of 16 on Sunday night, many are wondering if Querrey will be the first-time finalist that emerges from the cratered lower half of the men’s singles draw. If he is to do that he’ll have to get past a resurgent Kevin Anderson. Querrey and Anderson are similar players. Big serves, big forehands and no fancy stuff.
Querrey owns an 8-6 lifetime edge over Anderson, including a five-set victory over the South African in the round of 16 at Wimbledon this year, but the pair have split two meetings in 2017.
[12] Pablo Carreno Busta vs. [29] Diego Schwartzman
Career H2H: First meeting
In one of the more unlikely Grand Slam quarterfinals that we’ve seen on the men’s side in some time, fans will get a chance to know the games of Pablo Carreno Busta and Diego Schwartzman a bit better. It’s a great opportunity for both players, who have never reached a Grand Slam semifinal before, and while Carreno Busta is the better hardcourt player and the more accomplished player, Schwartzman is a 5’7” dynamo (Schwartzman is the shortest Grand Slam quarter-finalist since fellow 5'7" South American Jaime Yzaga at the 1994 US Open.) that has the ability to run for days.
The Argentine has been in good form this year. He took Novak Djokovic to five sets at Roland Garros and more recently defeated Dominic Thiem in Montreal to reach his second career Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the season (and second of his career).
Carreno Busta is into his second major quarterfinal of the season in New York, and first ever on a hardcourt.