The women’s quarterfinals will be set after four US Open round of 16 matches on Monday. Top seed Karolina Pliskova faces a challenge from American Jennifer Brady, Americans Coco Vandeweghe and Madison Keys can also post big wins, while veteran Kaia Kanepi looks to continue her magical run. David Adair and Yesh Ginsburg offer up their previews with predictions.
Karolina Pliskova vs Jennifer Brady
Yesh: Pliskova has struggled early in her last two matches. I don’t know if Jennifer Brady is the one to take advantage of an inconsistent #1 seed, but the young American has come out of nowhere on hard courts this year. I say that continues. Brady in 3
David: Pliskova has resembled a dead person walking, laboring to victory over Nicole Gibbs and Zhang in the last two rounds. Surviving match point against Zhang, who wasn’t 100% fit herself, does not give confidence in the number 1 seed.
Brady made it hard work for herself in the last round against Niculescu, but showed fighting spirit and a repeat of that would trouble Pliskova. I am going to go with my Brady hunch in this one. Brady in 3
Coco Vandeweghe vs Lucie Safarova
Yesh: This is a match of two talented players that so often can’t quite perform on the biggest of stages. The one who controls her nerves better will win, so I’ll go with the American on home soil. Vandeweghe in 3
David: Coco needs to work on her temper, as flashes of hot-headness marred a great performance against Radwanska in round 3. In the previous round against the tricky Tunisian: Ons Jabeur: Coco showed a ruthless streak that has been missing of late. If she re-captures that she should have too much for Safarova. Vandeweghe in 2
Elina Svitolina vs Madison Keys
Yesh: Keys had a tremendous comeback to reach the fourth round. Unfortunately for her, Svitolina is the best player on tour right now and Keys will be drained from her last match. Svitolina in 2
David: This is a mouthwatering tie. These two are both players high up there in the “best players never to win a slam” category. Madison Keys has been in hot form on the American hard-court stretch, whereas Svitolina looked a little beleaguered in her last match against Shelby Rogers. The Ukrainian let the American claw her way back into a match that Svitolina would normally have put to bed a lot sooner. Keys in 3
Daria Kasatkina vs. Kaia Kanepi
Yesh: This is a shocking matchup for a spot in a Slam quarterfinal. The two have never met on hard courts, and this should be a huge toss-up. Kanepi in 3
David: Qualifier Kaia Kanepi, just did not give up against Osaka in the last round. Yes, there are elements of Osaka being cursed in the US Open 3rd Round, given that miraculous Keys comeback of 2016, but Kanepi looked strong. That said Kasatkina is a dangerous player who could trouble anyone on her day, excuses aside she bossed Ostapenko last round and should see this one out, relatively comfortably. Kasatkina in 3
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