Well, weren’t there some shocks in the Round of 16! The young Canadian, Fernandez, beat former champion Kerber to progress to the quarters, and the young Spaniard in the men’s draw, Alcaraz, has also progressed through to the next round, becoming the youngest male ever in the open era to reach the quarterfinals. Djokovic was up against it early, losing the first set to unseeded American, Brooksby, 1-6 (yes you read that right, it’s not a typo!). But he managed to turn it around and completely dominate throughout the next three sets.
Unfortunately Tiafoe, Brooksby and Opelka were knocked out in their respective matches, all in four sets. Also, the last remaining American women was knocked out in straight sets. Unfortunately, there are now no Americans left in the draw, on either the men’s or women’s side.
It has been a tournament of upsets, and there have been many matches that have gone the distance as well. Out of a total 16 spots available left in the tournament (eight in the men’s and eight in the women’s), there are five amount of players that are unseeded, with three left in the men’s side of the draw, and two on the women’s side.
What will the next round at the US Open bring? Only time will tell! Enjoy our free tennis picks and predictions for each round of the 2021 US Open tournament.
Quarterfinals Tennis Picks For The US Open: Men’s
Botic van de Zandschulp vs Daniil Medvedev (2)
The unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp will face his biggest game in his career, and his toughest opponent yet, as he fights the second seed, in Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the final four. The qualifier is yet to play a three set match, with his first round match going the distance, his second and third round match going to four sets, and his Round of 16 match, against the 11th seed in Schwartzman, also went the distance. Looking to Medvedev’s performance so far this US Open, he is simply cruising and is still yet to drop a set the entire Grand Slam, in fact he hasn’t even been taken to a tie breaker.
Like many others in the US Open at the moment, is has got to be van de Zandschulp’s break out Grand Slam. The 25 year old had to go through the qualifiers just to make it into the main draw at the US Open. His best performance was in the last round when it knocked out Schwartzman, who was seeded 11th, in five sets. It is another step up though, facing off against an opponent like Medvedev. There is going to be a lot of nerves coming from van de Zandschulp and also considering how much game time he has actually played so far this tournament, he won’t have the freshest of legs.
Very smooth sailing for Daniil Medvedev so far in NY. pic.twitter.com/WetEeG7KhM
— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) September 7, 2021
If Medvedev can win this match and progress to the semi finals, it will be the third consecutive year he has done so. Medvedev had a great lead up to the US Open and is finding form at the right time. All of his matches so far have been completely clinical and he has not let his opponent of the hook from the get go. He is looking to make it all the way to the final, where a potential matchup with Djokovic will be on the cards. Looking at the head-to-head between these two players, they have never played before, so it currently stands at 0-0.
Let’s put it simply, Medvedev is going to be damn hard to beat, and we really can’t see van de Zandschulp making any inroads in this match. The Russian’s tennis IQ puts him with the best of the best, and his ability to turn defence into offense will be one of the many things that will set him apart from his opponent. Medvedev is consistent and won’t let the big stage or match get to him. Medvedev to win in straight sets.
Tennis Pick: Both Players To Win A Set – No (-320)
Felix Auger-Aliassime (12) vs Carlos Alcaraz
The 12th seeded Canadian in Felix Auger-Aliassime will look to book himself a spot in the final four, the opponent standing in his way, Spanish young gun, Carlos Alcaraz. Auger-Aliassime has had a number of tight matches on his way to the quarterfinals. His first round match was taken to four sets, his second round match was won in straight sets, his third round match went the distance and last time out, against Tiafoe, he managed to get the job done in four sets. Alcaraz is stringing together a set of wonderful performances at the US Open, after winning his first round match in straight sets, he only dropped one set in his second round match, then he was up against Tsitsipas in the third round, where the Spaniard managed to get the job done in five sets, it also took another five setter in his Round of 16 match.
This is the first time the Canadian has ever reached the quarter final at the US Open. Auger-Aliassime hasn’t had it all his way throughout the tournament, and he had to overcome some very competitive challengers. If he can make it through to the semi finals, it will be his first ever appearance in a Grand Slam. Auger-Aliassime is much more experienced then his opponent and will come into this clash at the favorite. Will he be able to rise under the pressure? Only time will tell.
The Spaniard has been the talk of the town at the moment, and he his having is break through performance. Even though he was relatively unknown before the US Open, he came into this tournament full of confidence, as he managed to find form when he needed it, winning his first ATP title and making it to the semi finals in Winston-Salem. Alcaraz has overcome players that are ranked much higher than him, mainly Tsitsipas to make it through to the quarters, and there doesn’t look like any slowing down.
This will be the first time the pair play each other, so the head-to-head is currently 0-0. Both competitors have a very aggressive style of play, and overall they both have similar game styles, so it will be interesting to see who will take control of the match early and if they can manage to keep control. At this stage both men will be feeling it in their legs as they have played a lot of tennis so far. We think this will be a close one, and both players are good enough to win this match. Take the overs.
Tennis Pick: Total Sets – Over 3.5 (-215)
Alexander Zverev (4) vs Lloyd Harris
The fourth seed, Alexander Zverev, looks to progress through to another Grand Slam semi final, but he will have to overcome South African, Lloyd Harris to do so. Unlike many of the other top seeds in the men’s draw, Zverev has had a fairly comfortable ride to the quarters, only dropping one set so far. Unseeded Harris has successfully knocked out 7th, 22nd and 25th seeds to make it through to the quarter finals. His first round match was his most challenging, that one went the distance, he won the second and third round matches in straight sets, and his Round of 16 match went to four sets.
Zverev has been fairly clinical in his first four matches, but he has had to overcome a handful of challenges to successfully progress. With the rankings and experience levels the way they are, Zverev will be coming into this match as the firm favorite. We have seen Zverev crack under the pressure before, so many fans are hoping this doesn’t happen again. Zverev is also known to have lapses in concentration, but we haven’t really seen much of that in this tournament so far.
Lloyd Harris is through to the QF! He’ll face world no.4 Alexander Zverev next. #USOpen https://t.co/NYL1u2N2AR
— logistically difficult (@GaryHartleySA) September 7, 2021
Harris has really had a great year of tennis so far, but reaching the quarter finals at the US Open is got to be the cherry on top of the cake. He has beaten the likes of Nadal, Thiem and Wawrinka so far this year, can he add Zverev to his list on conquests? Harris was the man to take out the highest seeded American male left in the tournament and was able to successfully navigate Opelka’s big serves. Harris will be using his own massive serve to try and get a number of free or easy points, in his last match he his a mammoth 36 aces, for just four double faults.
The pair have played each other twice before, with Zverev leading that tally, 2-0. Their most recent clash was at the Cincinnati Masters, just last month, where Zverev won, 7-6(3), 6-2. Both players are known for the serves, so we can expect a lot of short points in this clash. The thing that we think will set the two apart will be Zverev’s return of serve, if he gets a look at too many second serves, Zverev very well may run away with this match. Both players are obviously in good form, and we think Zverev will get off to a quick start and eventually win the match.
Tennis Pick: To Win First Set & Match – Alexander Zverev (-225)
Novak Djokovic (1) vs Matteo Berrettini (6)
Novak Djokovic is just a few games away from winning all four Grand Slams in the same calendar year, if he wants to make it through to the semi finals, then he will have to overcome Italian, Matteo Berrettini. Everyone was expecting Djokovic to just breeze through his first few rounds, but that’s not what ended up happening. Three out of his four matches so far have been four setters. On the other side of the court will be Berrettini, who has play one three set match, two matches that went to four sets and another match that went the distance.
There is no doubt that the world number one will come into this clash as the firm favorite, but the pressure of trying to win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year is certainly getting to the Serb. He is having lapses in concentration which is resulting in him dropping a set, which usually tends to be the first set, in two of his three matches that went to four sets, it was the first set that Djokovic dropped. But time and time again the Serb proves just how good he is, and he can really overcome anything.
Berrettini is in career best form, which is reflected in his career high ranking, of eighth in the world. He has spent almost 10 hours on the court so far, and will definitely start to feel the pinch. So far this 2021 season, his win-loss record is at 37-8, with his record on the hard court, 13-3. He made it to the third round in Cincinnati, but in the Grand Slams that is where he usually steps up to the plate. Making it to the Round of 16 (where he retired before the match was played) at the Australian Open, made it to the quarter finals at the French Open (where he lost in four sets to Djokovic), and made it to the final at Wimbledon (where he again lost to Djokovic, in four sets).
This game will be a repeat of the final at Wimbledon, where Djokovic obviously won the title, in four sets, 6(4)-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Other than this clash the pair have played each other twice more, with Djokovic also winning both those matches. Their past matchups shows that Berrettini can get a set off the great Serb, but he has never been good enough to win. We think it will be more of the same in the quarters, with Berrettini getting one, or maybe two sets, but ultimately the win will go to the world number one.
Tennis Pick: Match & Both Players Win A Set – Novak Djokovic & Yes (+126)
Quarterfinals Tennis Picks For The US Open: Women’s
Elina Svitolina (5) vs Leylah Annie Fernandez
The fifth seed Elina Svitolina will look to beat young Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez to book a spot in the final four. The Ukrainian is playing some of the best tennis in her career to date, and is yet to drop a single set, in fact in all eight sets she has played so far, she is yet to drop more than five games. On the other side of the net will be Fernandez, and she managed to win her first two games in straight sets, but it got a bit tricky in the third and fourth rounds, and she needed three sets in each match to get the victory. Fernandez took out Osaka (3) in the third round and Kerber (16) in the Round of 16.
Svitolina, who has previously been ranked as high as three in the world, is still yet to win a Grand Slam, but this might just be her best chance yet, with both Osaka (3) and Barty (1) already knocked out of the tournament. So far in the US Open, she has spent just under five hours on the court, thanks to her great performances and not dropping a set so far. Svitolina’s win-loss record so far in 2021 is currently sitting at 35-16, and she is currently on a nine game winning streak. When looking at her record specifically on the hard court, her win-loss sits at, 27-9.
18 year olds in the Round of 16 at the #USOpen:
🇨🇦Leylah Annie Fernandez.
🇬🇧Emma Raducanu.
🇪🇸Carlos Alcaraz.
You absolutely LOVE to see it. pic.twitter.com/Bcprjrvp9X
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) September 4, 2021
Not only is Fernandez having a break out performance, but she also celebrated her birthday on the 6th of September. The now 19 year old is one of the giant slayers of the tournament taking out the 3rd and 16th seed, she will look at add the 5th seed to her list of conquests as well. Fernandez has spent eight hours on the court so far at the US Open, due to a couple of three set matches, and her win-loss record so far this year stands at 19-15, with her record on hard courts at, 15-8. She didn’t have the greatest level of form leading into this tournament, losing in the first round in Montreal and in Cincinnati, but has managed to find the greatest form of her life so far, just when she needs it.
The pair have played each other once before in the past, and Svitolina leads the tally, 1-0. They first played each other back in March 2020 on a hard court, and Svitolina won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. We love the fire that the Canadian has, she is simply fearless, and isn’t afraid to get the crowd involved. Considering Svitolina’s ranking and experience, she will come into this match as the firm favorite. But we are liking the look of Fernandez to give Svitolina a run for her money. Fernandez knows she can beat the big players, players that have won Grand Slams before, something that Svitolina has never done. This match will be going the distance.
Tennis Pick: Total Sets – Over 2.5 (+130)
Barbora Krejčíková (8) vs Aryna Sabalenka (2)
An interesting matchup as the highest seeded player left in the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka looks to make it into the semi finals, but will have to overcome Barbora Krejčíková to do so. Krejčíková is yet to drop a set, and played well (but somewhat injured) in her Round of 16 match against Muguruza. The Round of 16 match for Krejčíková was by far the closest match she has played to date in the US Open, with the second set going to a tiebreak. Since Sabalenka dropped a set in her first round match, she is yet to concede another set. In the Round of 16 Sabalenka completed dispatched 15th seeded Mertens, 6-4, 6-1.
The French Open Champion is having a great season so far, especially at the Grand Slams. Despite being knocked out in the second round at the Australian Open, she won the title at Roland Garros, made it to the Round of 16 at Wimbledon, and now has made it to the quarter finals at the US Open. Krejčíková is currently under a bit of an injury cloud for this match, as it looked like she sustained an abdominal issue in her Round of 16 match. Despite this, we all know just how much of a fighter Krejčíková is, and she won’t just lay down and accept defeat.
With Osaka and Barty both already out, the door is wide open for Sabalenka who is currently the +200 favorite to take out the title. Sabalenka has a current win-loss record of 42-14 so far in 2021, and had come into the US Open with some great form. Sabalenka will now have even more pressure on her shoulders as many are expecting her to win the US Open. Will she be able to rise to the occasion and claim her first Grand Slam title? Or will she crack under the pressure like Osaka and Barty did?
The pair have played each other just once before, with Sabalenka leading the way 1-0. They met in November 2020 on an indoor hard court, with Sabalenka getting the win in a tough fought three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. With Krejčíková under a little bit of an injury cloud, we think there is a lot more value in Sabalenka to get the win here. Krejčíková will probable try and keep the points as short as possible, but Sabalenka is smart and will take advantage of any weakness. Sabalenka to win the match.
Tennis Pick: Match Winner – Aryna Sabalenka (-170)
Emma Raducanu vs Belinda Bencic (11)
Where has Emma Raducanu been all our lives? She takes on the 11th see in Belinda Bencic, to attempt to book her spot in the semi final. Raducanu has simply been on fire throughout this tournament so far, and she it yet to drop a set. In fact she is yet to give up more than four games in a set, and not to take anything away from her, but she is also yet to face a seeded player (until now). Bencic has also been on fire so far throughout the US Open, and is yet to drop a set. She has successfully navigated matches against the 7th and 23rd seed.
The British qualifier is one of the most talked about women in tennis at the moment, currently ranked a career high of 150th in the world, she successfully navigated three rounds of qualifying to just make it into the main draw at the US Open. Every single one of her matches she has been a pleasure to watch and extremely clinical, she gets the job done like she’s got somewhere else to be! She has won seven games in a row and her record for the 2021 season currently stands at 20-6, with her record on hard courts at 15-3.
We are in the last 🎱 of the @usopen 🗽 Thank you to everyone for your continued support! pic.twitter.com/2bLqZt6Y9Z
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 7, 2021
Given Bencic’s ranking, she comes into this clash as the favorite, but not a blow out favorite by any stretch. She has been playing well this tournament and has faced a lot more challenging opponents, and has been able to successfully overcome them. So far this season, her win loss record stats at 30-15, with her record on hard courts at 20-7. She made it to the quarters at the Cincinnati Masters, and she looks to progress further at the Grand Slam. Despite previously being ranked as high as 4th in the world, she is yet to win a Grand Slam, but with the likes of Osaka and Barty already out, this may be her best chance yet.
This is going to be a tough one, with both women in fantastic form. We always love an underdog story, and think that you just can’t knock the form of Raducanu. When you are on a roll, you’re on a roll! Despite Raducanu not playing a seeded player yet, we think she will come into this game with all the confidence in the world and nothing to lose. All the pressure will be on Bencic as she is the favorite and expected to win this match. We are liking the look of an upset here.
Tennis Pick: Match Winner – Emma Raducanu (+128)
Karolina Plíšková (4) vs Maria Sakkari (17)
The fourth seed looks to continue her quest for her first ever Grand Slam title, but if she wants to make it to the semi finals, she will have to overcome the in form Greek of Maria Sakkari. Plíšková has had a fairly easy ride into the quarter finals, only dropping on set along the way. Her second round match against American Anisimova was as close as they come and it needed to go to a third set tiebreak! Sakkari also has had a reasonably comfortable ride to the quarter finals, winning her first three games in straight sets, but was up against it in the Round of 16, which was the last match of the night that went into the wee hours of the morning. She lost the first set in a tie breaker, then won the second set in another tie breaker, before showing no mercy to an injured Andreescu, winning 6-3 in the third set.
Plíšková, despite being ranked fourth in the world, and previously held a career high of number one, has never won a Grand Slam. But she certainly has a golden opportunity with big names like Osaka and Barty both already knocked out. Her win-loss record for this season so far sits at 34-16, with her record on the hard court at 20-9. She made it through to the final in Montreal and to the semi finals in Cincinnati, so she came into this tournament with a lot of confidence and she has produced the goods.
Sakkari second time she has made a quarter finals appearance at a Grand Slam. She has a fairly decent win-loss record so far this season, currently sitting at 30-14, with her record at 20-9 on the hard courts. She is currently at a career high ranking of 18th, and the Greek hot shot is a powerful striker of the ball and has the ability to hit any opponent off the court. She made it to the third round at Montreal, but ended up going down in the first round at Cincinnati. This hasn’t slowed her down as she looks to make it through to the semi finals.
The pair have played each other twice before, with the tally standing at one game a piece. The first met back in 2018, where Sakkari proved too good and was able to get the job done in three sets. They last met in 2019 where Plíšková managed to level the head-to-head, winning in straight sets. This will be the first time the pair meet on a hard court, with both their previous encounters on the clay courts. With both women in such great form and high levels of confidence, we can easily see this one going the distance.
Tennis Pick: Total Sets – Over 2.5 (+114)
If you are interested in more news for the US Open then make sure you visit our tennis hub page, we’ve got all the details you need!
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
