Day 8 of the US Open brings marquee names, popcorn matches and… the spherical of 16. Right here’s what we’ll be maintaining tabs on.
The Proper Struff?
Novak Djokovic takes heart stage Sunday evening 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 evening session guarantees one other thrilling chapter because the World No. 1 appears to be like to increase his legacy on the US Open.
Townsend Takes Heart 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 gained 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 may give her the sting in opposition to a participant she hasn’t confronted in practically 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 stress? The 2024 runner-up in New York faces Czech rising star Tomas Machac, in opposition to whom he holds a 2-0 lifetime edge. Machac has been making waves on tour this season, and will present Fritz with a stern take a look at. They’ll be up third in Louis Armstrong Stadium — a court docket Fritz clearly enjoys, having performed all three of his matches there this yr. He must also get pleasure from rowdy assist from the American followers.
