2018 U.S. Open Day Seven Preview

September 2, 2018 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo courtesy of USTA/Garrett Ellwood

 

The first week of the 2018 U.S. Open is now in the rearview mirror as we begin the second half of the fortnight at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows on Sunday with a star-studded Day Seven Schedule of Play.

Defending men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal kicks off play on Ashe as he looks to follow up on his thrilling four-set victory over Karen Khachanov in the previous round and battles Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili for a spot in the quarterfinals. It is the second meeting all-time between the two, with the first coming at the French Open last year, a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 thrashing in the third round.

Basilashvili has had a run of good form here in Queens which included beating American Jack Sock in the second round, but will have to play the best match of his life to topple Rafa.

Coming off of her brilliant performance against her sister on Friday night, Serena Williams returns to action in a showdown with Kaia Kanepi, who is looking to make her way into the U.S. Open quarterfinals for a second straight year and third time overall. The Estonian ousted top-seed Simona Halep in the first round, but carries a 0-4 record all-time against Serena. It is a matchup of two big hitters and should result in some high-octane tennis to close out the day session on Ashe.

Opening up the Night Session on Ashe is the defending women’s champion Sloane Stephens as she takes on 15thseeded Elise Mertens.  The Belgian has won the only previous matchup between the two, but Stephens seems at home on center stage at the U.S. Open, and will once again draw on her experiences last year to play her best in prime time.

American John Isner will look to continue his deep runs at Grand Slams recently as he squares off with a resurgent Milos Raonic, the 25th seed. Isner, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals earlier this year, is seeking a spot in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the second time in his career, having done so in 2011 as well. Isner is 4-1 all-time versus Raonic.

Last year’s finalist Kevin Anderson is coming off a long five-setter, his second of the tournament, against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the last round and will meet ninth-seed Dominic Thiem in an intriguing matchup in Louis Armstrong Stadium

Former champion Juan Martin del Potro will be back on Ashe at night as he meets 20th seed Borna Coric in the first career meeting between the two.

Click Here to see the full schedule for Day Seven at the 2018 U.S. Open.

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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