A surprising, first-time finalist at the U.S. Open is already guaranteed. That is due to an incredibly wide-open bottom half of the draw, where qualifier Denis Shapovalov will continue his campaign against Pablo Carreno Busta. Sam Querrey and Mishca Zverev are also in action.
(Q) Denis Shapovalov vs. (12) Pablo Carreno Busta
Shapovalov is the one stealing headlines at this U.S. Open, but it is Carreno Busta who will set a record on Sunday. The Spaniard will become the first player ever to face four qualifiers in a single major–and he is doing so in the first four rounds. Nobody since 2007 at Wimbledon had even gone up against three at the the same major until Carreno Busta stormed through Evan King, Cameron Norrie, and Nicolas Mahut this week. The No. 12 seed did not drop a set en route to the last 16 and only King extended him to one tiebreaker.
In Shapovalov, however, Carreno Busta appears to be running into a different beast. The 18-year-old Canadian is enjoying the best stretch of tennis in his young career, highlighted by a semifinal run at the Montreal Masters. He successfully qualified for the U.S. Open main draw and has since taken out Daniil Medvedev, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Kyle Edmund (via fourth-set retirement). Shapovalov is more talented than Carreno Busta and may end up having a more noteworthy career, but the 19th-ranked player in the world is a veteran by comparison and one who just reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal at the French Open. Carreno Busta’s experience should be enough to end Shapovalov’s sensational summer, but not before an entertaining battle ensues.
Pick:Â Carreno Busta in 4
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(17) Sam Querrey vs. (23) Mischa Zverev
On Friday afternoon, Querrey and John Isner were staring at the best opportunity for an American man to reach a slam final for the first time since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. Querrey took another step toward capitalizing on the golden chance, as he got the best of Radu Albot in four sets. Isner, however, saw the wide-open bottom half of the draw close on him in the form of a straight-set loss to Zverev. Now Zverev will try to crush the hopes of the host nation yet again when he goes up against Querrey for the first time on Sunday night.
The 27th-ranked German’s matchup with Isner almost never happened, because he needed a total of 10 sets to survive rounds one and two. Zverev recovered from two sets to one down and a break down in the fourth against Thai-Son Kwaitkowski before holding off Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-7(3), 7-5. Thus the 30-year-old is one victory away from the second major quarterfinal of his career and second of the season (previously at the Australian Open). Querrey is two wins shy of a second consecutive slam semifinal, having made a run to the last four at Wimbledon before succumbing to Marin Cilic in four tight sets. The 21st-ranked American has maintained his strong form with defeats this week of Albot, Gilles Simon, and Dudi Sela, surrendering just one set to Albot in the process. Although Querrey is by no means the same play as Isner in terms of style, Zverev should be able to execute the same kind of tricks: a steady diet of backhand slices that stay low to the ground and endless net attacks. The fact that Querrey has never faced Zverev before will not help.
Pick:Â Zverev in 4
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WWW?
Carreno Busta in 3
Shapovalov in five and Querrey in four
Shapo in 4!
Shapovalov and Querrey in 4
Shapo in four , Querrey in four.
PCB in 5, Querrey in 4
Contrasts in styles, should be interesting!
Shapovalov, Querry, and Pouille are going to all win.
The picks on this site are just absolute garbage. Some of the worst I’ve ever seen.
Speaking of garbage….although not yet absolute.
Not to mention, the one that really capped it off was picking Lopez to win tonight! LMAO
Has Ricky ever picked Shapavalov to win? He’ll win another here against PCB. Both Shapo and Querry in 4.
Ricky has picked Shapovalov to win every match he’s played so far…
Except for this one I mean
picked him to lose first round to Medvedev…
Yeah, I picked Shapo to win one round. He has far exceeded my expectations about his durability and strength – he is charming and talented as well. I’m not sure he can beat PCB but it will be interesting.
Relax T. This is one of the best websites of its kind. That said, I couldn’t agree more with Ricky on this one. Denis is more talented but Pablo wins here
Shapo and PCB is ON!
Shapo really reminds me of a young Rafa, except that he’s of fairer skin whilst Rafa is more tanned. Shapo’s mannerism, his demeanor, his youthful exuberance and energy are so much like young Rafa! He’s bouncy out there, his roaring when he wins an important point, etc and etc are so Rafa like! In fact I find his facial features resemble that of Rafa’s sister, Maria Isabel’s, they’re like brother and sister!
Some people think that game wise, they’re totally different but, if we’d watched young Rafa of 2003/2004, Rafa was way more aggressive than what he is now. Young Rafa had a better FH but Shapo has a better serve and a better BH; Rafa had better footwork and foot speed.
PCB to win this in four sets, I feel.
Yes, I didn’t want to say it because I’m not the expert on Rafa but Shapo’s energy and manner reminds me of young Rafa. This is Shapo’s 7th match in a row? That’s what a commentator said. He had to come through qualifying, I forget. He’s incredible for 18. We don’t see youngsters like him very often.
Cheering for him but PCB should win.
Lucky..I said the same to atleast 3 friends today..He just reminds me of Rafa from 2005-2007..same agility..speed..lefty..same hair
Go Shapo! He gets the first break 4-2.
Kkkkk! This Shapo kid……no “respect” for his elders at all.
PCB better buckle up, he is in for a torrid time…………..
Yeah Denis!! Keep it rolling!!
This is a good one ?
Slapstick just blew it big time. We’ll see how he responds
Shapstick*
Yes it is a good one! Love how PCB kept it together and came back from two breaks down to force a tb. Sloppy play from Shapovalov and PCB being calm and cool. PCB wins the first set!
so clutch by PCB
Yes, clutch is the word!
both matches are VERY interesting…and hard to call….but I like S’lov in 4 and Mischa Z in straight 9I was AT the Isner match Fri night….Mischa was flawless….cool & calm throughout!)
PCB is a calm and patient player, unlike Tsonga who tends to be rather impatient and goes for broke at times. PCB just bid his time, stays in the rallies and waits for his chances patiently. Well played so far by PCB.
Yes I am impressed by PCB. He’s playing solid tennis and Shapo is self-destructing with too many errors and sloppy play.
Considering the crowd is solidly behind Shapovalov, PCB has done very well to keep his composure and play well.
Oh, oh, PCB laying down the law…………
Shapo has 27 UE’s so far.
High quality stuff.
I am so proud of PCB! He has really shown such composure! Again he came up with the shots to take the second set tb! With the crowd clearly supporting Shapo, PCB has just stayed strong and brought the goods.
Well done!
Up 3-0 in the third with 2 break points to go up 4-0… wow so many blown opportunities in that match
Yes, so PCB wins as expected! Very well done!
It looks like PCB will be inside the top ten this season, happy for him. He hasn’t lost a set so far this USO, and he’s into another slam QF this season, well done again!
Proud of PCB and hopeful for Shapo’s future. But as far as an exciting match. Nah. Expected result.
And now Sharapova. No thanks. ?‍♀️
Maybe Garbine and Petra later.