The quarter finals of the US Open as far as the singles are concerned conclude on Wednesday with the final four matches take place across the two sessions on Arthur Ashe Stadium and we should be treated to a couple of excellent periods of tennis with the schedule looking fantastic on paper.
Ana Konjuh vs Karolina Pliskova
This should be a decent match to open up the day’s play. Karolina Pliskova survived an epic tussle with Venus Williams in the previous round while Konjuh took Agnieszka Radwanska to the absolute cleaners.
Konjuh showed in that match that she has game but Radwanska was a good match up for her. The Pole doesn’t have the power to beat anyone or keep them at bay but Pliskova does and it will be interesting to see how the youngster deals with that.
Add that to the fact this is the biggest match of her life and I’m concerned for Konjuh I have to say. In terms of Grand Slams this is the biggest match for Pliskova as well but she’s won some pretty big titles most recently in Cincinnati where she beat three fine opponents from the quarter finals onwards.
Pliskova had been in fine form and hadn’t lost a set in the tournament until Venus Williams produced her best against her. I’m not convinced Konjuh has that form of game so I think the Czech will have too much here.
Kei Nishikori vs Andy Murray
This looks like being an exciting match on paper but I’m not convinced it is going to play out that way in reality. The reason why I say that is based on the head to head which Murray leads 7-1 and the only time Nishikori won was when Murray was jaded at the ATP Tour Finals having played a batch of tournaments in a row in a bid to qualify.
The two men went the distance in an epic Davis Cup tie earlier in the year but Murray was in full control of that before Nishikori found something but that was the only time in the seven matches he has lost to Andy Murray that he has taken a set. Nishikori took a beating at the hands of Murray in the Olympics last month and I’m expecting similar here.
Serena Williams vs Simona Halep
The heavyweight tussle of the women’s quarter finals should be a cracking watch for the first hour or so where Halep is likely to chase everything down with the enthusiasm she is famous for but once Serena Williams gets the lead I expect her to ram it home.
Serena holds a 7-1 head to head advantage and this stage is pretty much hers and while Halep will chase down everything I’m not convinced she has the power to keep Serena at bay for long. If Serena doesn’t make a huge amount of unforced errors, and she hasn’t so far in the tournament, then I expect her power to be too much.
Juan Martin del Potro vs Stan Wawrinka
This should be a superb way to finish off the day as these two meet for the second Grand Slam in a row. After winning their first two meetings Wawrinka has now lost their last four battles including a four set clash at Wimbledon.
Of the two del Potro has played much the better of the two so far and Dominic Thiem’s retirement in his last match will have done him no harm but Wawrinka showed signs of improvement in the previous round and he loves the big stage. I’m expecting a classic here but having backed del Potro before the tournament started I’ll sit back and hope he wins without another bet.
Tips
WON – Back K.Pliskova to beat A.Konjuh 2-0 for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
Back A.Murray (-6.5 games) to beat K.Nishikori for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Coral
Back S.Williams to beat S.Halep 2-0 for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back them here:
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