The quarter finals conclude at the US Open on Wednesday when the top half of the two singles draws get played out across two fascinating sessions of tennis inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
This is the section of the draws where the two world number one players will be looking to make it through to the semi-finals but both face tricky looking encounters while the other games offer up a chance for an outsider to reach the last four.
Day Session
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Karolina Muchova
The first quarter final on Wednesday sees two outsiders going into the tournament battling it out for a place in the semi-final as Beatriz Haddad Maia meets a Karolina Muchova who will be aiming for successive appearances in the last four having reached the semis here last year.
Both of these women have had to work hard to make it through to this stage and have seen off some quality opponents to get here. Haddad Maia has taken care of Anna Kalinskaya and Caroline Wozniacki among others while Muchova has seen off former winner Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini en route to this semi-final. I took the Brazilian in the previous round because I couldn’t believe she was the outsider. I think she is a worthy underdog here though, emphasised by Muchova winning their two previous meetings. The Czech has been this deep in Slams before and looks in good touch. I think she wins this but the odds fully reflect that.
Jack Draper vs Alex de Minaur
The men’s match in the day Session is an Ashes battle as the number one players in Great Britain and Australia meet when Jack Draper embarks on a maiden Grand Slam quarter final against one of the form men of the season in Alex de Minaur.
It almost goes without saying that this is a huge opportunity for both players to reach the last four of a huge tournament and it will be interesting to see if nerves play a part or not. Draper has never played a match on Ashe in his career so nerves could easily play a part on his side of the net and while he is maturing all the time, he has spoken in interviews about learning how to manage himself in Grand Slam matches. Draper hasn’t really been tested this week and he surely will be here so it will be interesting to see how he reacts to that if that comes his way. De Minaur is more experienced at this level and in these big matches so that has to play a part in this one. Although he has had to battle more this week, the Aussie has generally had a bit in hand in each match. If this gets physical, and surely it will, I have to fancy de Minaur right now. I don’t think he’s a great catchup for Draper so it is the Australian for me in this one.
Special Offer
Open a new Sporting Index account and bet £10 on the US Open (min odds 1/2) to get £20 in free bets (2x£10 free bets) to use on any sports market! Click the image below to take advantage of this great offer! 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Responsibly.
Night Session
Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula
The opening match in the night session sees the world number one and top seed Iga Swiatek looking to make it through to the last four in New York once again when she meets the home star Jessica Pegula.
Pegula arrived here full of confidence having won the title in Montreal in the lead up to the week and she has cruised into this quarter final without dropping a set and without being challenged in any way really. Swiatek has also eased into the quarter final and overcame the challenge of Liudmila Samsonova in the last round. I think it is fair to say that this will be the tough test for both women so far in this tournament and a significant one for Pegula in particular. The American has had success against Swiatek in the past and will have the crowd on her side but whether that’s enough to assist her in getting the job done here remains to be seen. I’ve an inkling that Pegula will cause Swiatek problems here but not enough of a feeling to act on it.
Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev
The quarter finals of the US Open conclude with a clash between the world number one and winner of the Australian Open in Jannik Sinner and the man who he beat in the Melbourne final, the last remaining former US Open champion in Daniil Medvedev.
Both players dropped a set in their opening match this tournament but have come through without dropping another one since then although Sinner could be forgiven for wondering how he didn’t lose the first set to Tommy Paul in the previous round having trailed by a double break. Medvedev had an absolute cruise in the last 16 with Nuno Borges turning up with nothing left to give so the Russian has to be in decent shape going into this one. Sinner won that Australian Open final in a deciding set having been 2-0 down in sets but Medvedev got his revenge at Wimbledon when he prevailed in a fifth set so we could be in for a really long night here. That particularly appears the case when you consider that four of their last five meetings have gone to a final set. Based on that, it would be a surprise if over 38.5 games doesn’t land before this one is done.
Tips
Back A.de Minaur to beat J.Draper for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Boylesports
Back him here:
Back J.Sinner vs D.Medvedev – Over 38.5 games for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
