We’re into the quarterfinals of the 2020 US Open. In the top half of the draw, Naomi Osaka will try to fend off three debutants at that stage of the major. Who will advance to the semifinals? Predicting today are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, Pablo Mosquera Hasselbaink, Yesh Ginsburg, and Andrew Watson.
US Open Day Nine Predictions
Jennifer Brady vs Yulia Putintseva
Jim: Two months ago, few, if any, would have predicted that Brady would find herself in the US Open quarterfinals. Now, however, were she to lose to Putintseva, it would be hard to view it as anything other than a disappointment. That is not intended as a slight against Putintseva, who has once again shown that she has plenty of fighting spirit, as well as a more than useful forehand. But with Brady playing this well, only one outcome looks possible.
Prediction: Brady in 2
Damian: While Brady had been steadily improving her game for years now, since returning to action she has been electric. After taking her maiden title in Lexington, the American has been fantastic in getting to the quarterfinals here without losing a set. A bit of a worry is the medical timeout that she took on her leg against Angelique Kerber. However, she appeared to be moving fine after that. Putintseva also impressed by taking down more powerful opponents with smart play and a never give up attitude. Brady should have enough weapons to beat her though, as her serve and forehand have been otherworldly all week long.
Prediction: Brady in 2
Pablo: The mercurial Kazakh has made the most of the numerous withdrawals to reach her third major quarterfinal of her career, first away from Roland Garros. Meanwhile, this will mark Brady’s maiden appearance at this advanced stage. Even though Putintseva is more experienced and won their two meetings in 2018, Brady has to be the pick here. The UCLA product is arguably the most in-form player on tour. Her versatile forehand is firing on all cylinders and she has yet to drop more than four games in a set in New York.
Prediction: Brady in 2
Yesh: Putintseva has impressed in match after match this tournament, digging out wins against players with bigger games. She’ll have to do the same again if she wants to move on. Jennifer Brady, meanwhile, is playing the best tennis of anyone on tour. She needed a medical timeout for her leg in the second set against Angelique Kerber, though, and wasn’t quite as dominant afterwards. This match will come down to the American’s health. If her leg is fine, she wins quickly. If not, Putintseva pulls off another surprise.
Prediction: Brady in 2
Andrew: The Kazakh pulled off something of a surprise dumping out the eighth seed Petra Martic. She did so with her brand of clean groundstrokes and competitiveness. Unfortunately, those are two traits that Brady won’t be beaten in either. Add in the extra power of the American and it is difficult to see where Putintseva will find the advantage in this match.
Prediction: Brady in 2
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Naomi Osaka vs Shelby Rogers
Jim: Osaka’s straight-sets win over Anett Kontaveit in the fourth round has gone some way to putting concerns about her hamstring injury to rest. Which is fortunate, because the Japanese will likely need to be at her very best when she takes on Rogers. The American is in the form of her life and was nerveless in edging sixth seed Petra Kvitova in a third-set tiebreak in the last 16. But that match has surely taken a lot out of her. Perhaps too much for her run to continue.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Damian: Osaka’s hamstring injury that forced her to pull out of the Western & Southern Open doesn’t seem to be a concern anymore. The Japanese had a bunch of mixed performances this week but managed to get her level up for the biggest test against Anett Kontaveit. Shelby Rogers has been playing way over her ranking lately but she’s certainly going to feel some nerves coming into that one. Plus, that win over Kvitova will take its toll on her, both physically and mentally.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Pablo: Rogers boasts a commanding 3-0 head to head lead including WTA and ITF events. Incredibly, Osaka has yet to steal a set from the South Carolina native. The caveat is that all these encounters happened between 2013 and 2017; i.e. before a severe knee injury sidelined Rogers for 13 months and also before Osaka became the world-beating force she is today. At the US Open, Rogers has edged both a dark horse in Elena Rybakina and a bona-fide contender like Petra Kvitova despite winning 12 fewer points in the latter match. She’s playing at a really high level. However, look for Osaka to extend her unblemished record (6-0) at major quarterfinals and beyond.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Yesh: Rogers looks really good, as she has for the past month, but she’s not quite in the same league as Osaka. Last year’s champion is rounding into form, and when she’s playing her best, she’s scary. Rogers won’t be able to pull off another upset.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Andrew: Osaka’s most impressive win of the week came against a really good opponent in Anett Kontaveit last time out. Kontaveit had been in good form, but Rogers is possibly in better form right now. Her delight at seeing off Petra Kvitova in a third set tiebreak was palpable but she immediately said “I’m not done” in her oncourt interview. Rogers will not give this up to Osaka, the Japanese will have to take it with skill and power. This may go the distance and if it gets tight I am actually going to favour the American. Rogers has won a lot of tight matches recently and her confidence is sky high.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
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