{"id":59537,"date":"2023-09-04T16:15:58","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T20:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=59537"},"modified":"2023-09-04T16:10:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T20:10:10","slug":"us-open-day-9-mens-predictions-djokovic-fritz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2023\/09\/04\/us-open-day-9-mens-predictions-djokovic-fritz\/","title":{"rendered":"US Open Day 9 Men&#8217;s Predictions Including Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The men&#8217;s quarterfinals start on Day 9 of the US Open. We get the first two of the four matches, including Novak Djokovic squaring off with American #1 Taylor Fritz. Who will advance to Friday&#8217;s semifinals? Our writers share their thoughts on both matches for you. Predicting these matches are Shane Black, Jordan Reynolds, Damian Kust, Jack Edward, and Yesh Ginsburg. What do you think will happen?<\/p>\n<h2>US Open Day 9 Men&#8217;s Predictions<\/h2\n\n\n\n<h4>Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe<\/h4>\n<p><em>Shane:<\/em><br \/>\nWe are guaranteed an American in the semifinals as Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton square off in the quarters. Both men bring their best tennis on the brightest stages, setting us up for a terrific match. Shelton\u2019s serve has touched 149 MPH this week and has been a significant weapon. However, Tiafoe has a keen ability to neutralize a big server with his return. Big Foe\u2019s experience during tense moments will be the difference.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Jordan:<\/em><br \/>\nTiafoe enters the quarterfinal as favorite by experience and ranking. But this is likely to come down to a few points. Both men serve and hit really big. I am backing the upset here. Shelton looks to be playing with so much freedom right now. That may trump experience in the biggest moments.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Shelton in 5<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Damian:<\/em><br \/>\nThis could be a good one. Shelton is shining again for the first time since the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/australian-open\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Australian Open<\/a> and managed to get through Paul this time around. He\u2019s not without a shot at Tiafoe here and the more experienced of the Americans kind of hasn\u2019t been properly tested so far. He made the semis here last year though and just like Shelton, rises to the occasion in front of the big crowds. Let\u2019s give a small edge to the seasoned player as the 20-year-old had his issues closing out Paul in the fourth round.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 5<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"ETpl5sbbR7ttaGmoHyVnUg\" class=\"gie-single\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1657793905\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ETpl5sbbR7ttaGmoHyVnUg',sig:'e_tQGpFY-IJzSCoVvvB44vkwkd3WNeMcjx1Auyo4k3U=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1657793905',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Jack:<\/em><br \/>\nThis will be an electric match. Both players will use the crowd as much as they can and will likely put on a stunning show. It\u2019s tough to call this one\u2014Ben Shelton will probably serve out of his mind, giving Tiafoe fleeting chances. <\/p>\n<p>I think last year\u2019s semifinalist takes those chances, however. Tiafoe isn\u2019t here to make up the numbers. He\u2019ll be resolutely determined to make it to the same stage as last year, if not one step further. The American\u2019s belief is palpable.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 5<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nTiafoe is looking to repeat his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2022\/09\/08\/frances-tiafoe-grand-slam-semifinalist\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">semifinal performance from last year<\/a>, but he has a significant obstacle in his way. Ben Shelton is on top of the world right play, playing with extreme confidence all over the court. His serve is massive, and his game is honestly reminiscent of Andy Roddick in his prime. Tiafoe will need to take Shelton out of his comfort zone early, because if the younger American finds a rhythm it&#8217;s hard to get him out of it.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Shelton in 5<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[cta id=4014 type=cta]<\/p>\n<h4>Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz<\/h4>\n<p><em>Shane:<\/em><br \/>\njokovic holds a 7-0 head-to-head record over Fritz, though the American did have a two sets to one lead on the Serbian at the 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/australian-open\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Australian Open<\/a>. Fritz has yet to drop a set in New York, playing phenomenal first-strike tennis. Djokovic has had a few bumps but has raised his level when needed. I like Fritz\u2019s serve to carry him, but still give Djokovic a massive advantage when the match gets tight.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Djokovic in 5<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Jordan:<\/em><br \/>\nThe American #1 has managed to win just one set in his previous seven matches against Djokovic. He should take encouragement, though, from his excellent level in the first four matches, not dropping a set on his way to the quarterfinal. However, I think the conditions make it even harder for Fritz to cause a big upset against the three-time <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/us-open\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">US Open<\/a> champion. The courts are slightly slower than some previous years in New York, which will hinder the Fritz serve that simply has to be on fire to have a chance.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Djokovic in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Damian:<\/em><br \/>\nFritz\u2019s chances wouldn\u2019t be looking that poor here if not for the 0-7 head-to-head. In fact, he\u2019s only ever won a set against Djokovic in one of these matches with the Serbian battling an abdominal tear at the Australian Open. Fritz has been in total business mode so far, not dropping a set and only losing his serve once. But the way Djokovic has disarmed him the last few times they play, it really makes you think he might be a bit too conventional with his baseline aggression to beat the 23-time Slam champion here.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Djokovic in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Jack:<\/em><br \/>\nThe head-to-head between Djokovic and Fritz does not make for good reading. Seven played, seven won for Djokovic. Two sets dropped, both in the same match when Djokovic was injured at the Australian Open. There was a moment at last year\u2019s ATP Finals where Fritz played as though he belonged in the conversation with the legendary Serb. That feeling has waned this season and, truthfully, the American has had a pretty easy time getting to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n<p>The conditions will allow Fritz to test Djokovic at times. Overall though, Fritz\u2019s lack of confidence going into this match-up and the rock-solid rally temperament of Djokovic will be a heavy catalyst.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Djokovic in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nThe real problem for Fritz is that nothing in his game can really touch Djokovic. This entire match will depend on the Serbian&#8217;s level. And that&#8217;s always a bad proposition for Djokovic&#8217;s opponents.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Djokovic in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The men&#8217;s quarterfinals start on Day 9 of the US Open. We get the first two of the four matches, including Novak Djokovic squaring off with American #1 Taylor Fritz. Who will advance to Friday&#8217;s semifinals? Our writers share their thoughts on both matches for you. Predicting these matches are Shane Black, Jordan Reynolds, Damian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1601,"featured_media":57116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[16662,17963,348,15512,22,15556,14210,14192,347,15712,2373,2369,3632,3616,8498],"class_list":["post-59537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predictions","tag-ben-shelton","tag-ben-shelton-predictions","tag-frances-tiafoe","tag-frances-tiafoe-predictions","tag-novak-djokovic","tag-novak-djokovic-predictions","tag-novak-djokovic-vs-taylor-fritz","tag-novak-djokovic-vs-taylor-fritz-prediction","tag-taylor-fritz","tag-taylor-fritz-predictions","tag-tennis-picks","tag-tennis-predictions","tag-us-open-mens-predictions","tag-us-open-predictions","tag-us-open-quarterfinal-predictions"],"modified_by":"Yesh Ginsburg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1601"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}