Day 8 of the US Open brings marquee names, popcorn matches and… the spherical of 16. Right here’s what we’ll be retaining tabs on.
The Proper Struff?
Novak Djokovic takes middle stage Sunday night time on Ashe Stadium, bidding for a file twenty fifth main title in a fourth-round conflict with Jan-Lennard Struff. The Serbian has dominated their head-to-head, profitable all seven earlier encounters, however Struff enters with momentum after a dominant win over Frances Tiafoe. Regardless of Struff’s energy, Djokovic’s unequalled returning and court docket craft ought to neutralize the German’s aggression. Each time Djokovic steps onto a Grand Slam stage, historical past is within the making, and Sunday’s night time session guarantees one other thrilling chapter because the World No. 1 seems to be to increase his legacy on the US Open.
Townsend Takes Middle Stage
Taylor Townsend has emerged as one of many US Open’s most compelling tales, dealing with her current on-court controversy with Jelena Ostapenko with poise whereas making a deep run. On Sunday, she faces two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, who received their solely earlier assembly eight years in the past in three units. Townsend comes off a third-round upset of fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva, whereas Krejcikova defeated American Emma Navarro to advance. Expertise meets momentum on this fourth-round conflict, and Townsend’s highly effective fearless, impressed play might give her the sting towards a participant she hasn’t confronted in almost a decade.
The Final American Man Standing
Taylor Fritz is now the final American man standing on the US Open after Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton all fell within the third spherical. Strain? What strain? The 2024 runner-up in New York faces Czech rising star Tomas Machac, towards whom he holds a 2-0 lifetime edge. Machac has been making waves on tour this season, and will present Fritz with a stern check. They’ll be up third in Louis Armstrong Stadium — a court docket Fritz clearly enjoys, having performed all three of his matches there this 12 months. He must also take pleasure in rowdy assist from the American followers.
