There should be plenty of entertaining action on the second quarterfinal’s day at the US Open, with four intriguing matches on the schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match (including Novak Djokovic vs Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev vs Lloyd Harris) on what should be a thrilling day of tennis. But who will reach the semifinals?
US Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Emma Raducanu vs Belinda Bencic
Jim: If Raducanu can stay injury free, she is a future Slam winner. But this year’s US Open is surely too soon for her despite all the great tennis she has played in reaching the quarterfinals. For Bencic, however, it might just have come at the perfect time. The Swiss has somewhat gone under the radar so far, but she has looked very assured in negotiating her first four matches. If she can maintain that level, she should have just about enough to see off Raducanu’s challenge.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Fraser: Raducanu’s dream is alive and well after she dismantled Shelby Rogers in the fourth round. The teenager looks a certainty to become a future star and has certainly made a name for herself in New York. However, those expecting her to keep on rolling may be disappointed. Bencic is an Olympic gold medallist and a legitimate top ten player at her best. This will be her third US Open quarterfinal and this is the best she’s looked here. Raducanu has done well to punish opponents for being off the mark so far, but Bencic is in the form of her life and looks like she means business. Raducanu might have enough to steal a set but Bencic is moving on in New York.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Steen: Raducanu is playing much better than any Grand Slam qualifier over the last decade, the British player has yet to drop a set and has now surpassed her Wimbledon run. Bencic is an Olympic gold medallist in fantastic form and is going to be tough to beat, still Raducanu’s special run is something I will back to continue.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Andy: I don’t know whether it is the way Raducanu is playing but no-one she plays seems capable of producing their best form against her. Sara Sorribes Tormo and Rogers had both dumped out excellent players but crumpled against the Briton. Will Bencic do that? It seems unlikely. The Swiss is far more experienced and obviously full of confidence. My head tells me that Bencic will win this one, obviously the heart says different but I’ll trust to logic in this case.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
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Karolina Pliskova vs Maria Sakkari
Jim: Sakkari ultimately won the physical battle with Bianca Andreescu, but I’m not entirely convinced that she won the tennis battle. Regardless, Pliskova will present an entirely different challenge. The Czech’s game is built around her formidable serve and her ability to land a powerful first strike. If she does that as effectively as she has so far at the US Open, expect her to hit through Sakkari often enough to reach the semifinals.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Fraser: Any doubts as to the Greek’s credentials in Grand Slams have been laid to rest in New York. With perhaps the toughest draw so far of the women remaining, she has only dropped a set to Andreescu who was playing incredible tennis and was on a 10 match win streak at Flushing Meadows. However, her opponent Pliskova is also in red-hot form and looks dangerous. The Czech has put on a serving clinic so far this tournament, but will need to do more than that against Sakkari who is equally capable on serve. Sakkari did a brilliant job of moving Andreescu around the court in her last match. If she can do the same here she should advance fairly comfortably with court-coverage the chink in Pliskova’s armour.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Steen: Sakkari needed three sets in her last match but is now just one match from matching her best ever Grand Slam performance (French Open this year). Pliskova reached the Wimbledon final and has won her last two matches easily. The head-to-head is split at one win apiece, but I’ll back the experienced Pliskova.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Andy: The head-to-head between these two is 1-1, but both matches were played on clay in Rome so it probably doesn’t tell us much anyway. The match will centre on whether Sakkari can use her excellent return of serve to hurt Pliskova enough. The Czech impressed me with her defence in the match against Pavlyuchenkova so I think she may be able to contain Sakkari a bit more than you would usually expect. For that reason I’m backing Pliskova to come through.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
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