By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday September 2, 2024

 

Grigor Dimitrov will take on Frances Tiafoe -- and the NY faithful -- on a blockbuster Day 9 in New York.

Photo Source: TTV

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



Foe sure

Frances Tiafoe has been absolutely electrifying in his last two victories, over Ben Shelton and Alexei Popyrin in Arthur Ashe Stadium. On Tuesday he will look to light up tennis’ bigges stadium once again as he faces Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in a battle of former semifinalists.

Since Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were ousted from the tournament prior to the second week, the bottom half has been a land of opportunity for the men. The only former US Open champion remaining in the draw, Daniil Medvedev, resides in the top half, as does the only other former Grand Slam champion remaining in the draw, Jannik Sinner.

So the stakes will be high for Tiafoe and Dimitrov. The winner of their contest will face either Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz in the semis.

Dimitrov has taken three of four contests from Tiafoe, but the pair have split their last two tilts.



Another Emma

Remember 2021 when Emma Raducanu came from out of the blue as a qualifier, and ran all the way to the US Open title on her debut? It was a magical run, to be sure. This year, another Emma–Navarro–hopes to put the Open under her spell. She’s not a qualifier, rather the 13th seed, but the excitement that would build around Navarro would likely be stronger, as she plays for the stars and stripes.



Navarro was cool as a cucumber as she took out defending champion Coco Gauff on Monday in her first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and she’ll look to summon more of that poise and perfect tennis when she faces Spain’s Paula Badosa, the No.26 seed, on Tuesday.

Former World No.2 Badosa has been resurgent of late, returning from back injury to finally play her brand of breathtaking, physical baseline tennis. Badosa has won 15 of 17 matches dating back to her title run in DC earlier this summer.

Further proof of the stunning nature of Badosa’s rise? She was ranked 93 at Wimbledon, and now comes in as the World No.26.

Queenwen in the Aryna

Ready for a rematch of the 2024 Australian Open women’s singles final? Fans will get one on Tuesday in Ashe, as two-time major champion Aryna Sabalenka faces Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in a heavily anticipated battle which is the only lower half quarterfinal that features two Top 10 players in Day 9.

Sabalenka has taken both of the pair’s meetings in straight sets. In addition to their meeting in the final in Melbourne, the powerhouses met in last year’s US Open quarterfinal, which was Zheng’s first trip to the last eight at a Slam.

The rising Chinese has put in the work, and grown a lot as a big match player since. Will she find a way to ruffle the feathers of Sabalenka?