By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday September 1, 2024

Day 8 of the US Open will mark the end of round 16 action in Flushing Meadows… Here’s what we’ll be watching on a blockbuster Monday at the US Open as the top half of the men’s and women’s draws compete for coveted quarterfinals spots.



Queen Iga for the Crown?

World No.1 Iga Swiatek is through to the fourth-round without the loss of a set at this year's US Open, and the 2022 champion next faces Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, a player that has never defeated her in three previous encounters. Swiatek has done a great job of shedding the disappointment of not winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris last month, and looks like she is ready to put in her best hard court Grand Slam performance since she won the title at the US Open two years ago.

Swiatek has not been broken in her last two matches and has won a remarkable 71 percent of her service points won through three rounds. She’s looking more and more like the player to beat in the top half of the draw, and she’ll likely take another step in the direction of a final showdown between the top two seeds on Monday.

Sinner a Winner?

The challenge gets a bit more intense on Monday for Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who faces 14th-ranked American Tommy Paul in the late match of the Arthur Ashe night session on Monday.

Sinner has done well to put his controversy behind him in week one, handling his duties with the press and gradually playing better with each round (he has won his last nine sets). It should get easier for the World No.1 as he gains distance from the doping scandal that rocked the Open when it was announced during qualifying week in Flushing Meadows.



But his quality of competion will jump up a notch.

Paul played a scratchy match in the third round, surrending five breaks against Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo, but the No.14 seed emerged with the victory and will relish the chance to take on the best player in the world at his home Slam on Monday.

It will probably be one of the craziest experiences of his career – will Paul rise to the challenge?

Jazz or Classical?

Grab an 11 AM Honey Duece (trust us you won’t be the only one) and start Day 8 with a bit of jazz on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday. Or is it classical you prefer. Both will be on hand during an enticing matchup between two of the most talented players on the WTA Tour.

Jasmine Paolini – she of the outrageous career renaissance – is in amazing form at the majors this year, having reached the final of the two previous majors she played, at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

Paolini was 4-16 at the majors prior to 2023. This year -- so far -- she is 18-3.



Fellow former Slam finalist Karolina Muchova passes the eye test as one of the most aesthetically pleasing players on the WTA Tour. She's also back in good health after wrist surgery and finding her top level.

During their post-match press conferences on Saturday, both Paolini and Muchova professed adoration for the other’s game.

“Roland Garros, I was following actually, and I'm a fan of hers,” Muchova said. “She did incredible job and playing finals on clay and then grass in Wimbledon. It's just pretty inspiring. Yeah, she's very nice girl. So, yeah, I was supporting.”

“Me too,” said Paolini, when hearing of Muchova’s comments. “. I'm a fan of her. She's playing unbelievable. I really love how she plays. She can play every shot, every shot, slice, volleys, serve and volleys. She's a very complete player, I think, very tough opponent.

“I hope we can play a really, really good match.”

So do we.