Will Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev set up their highly-anticipated U.S. Open semifinal showdown? They are heavy favorites to do so on Wednesday at the expense of respective opponents Matteo Berrettini and Lloyd Harris.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) Matteo Berrettini
It will be a rematch of the Wimbledon final when Djokovic and Berrettini meet again in the quarters of the U.S. Open on Wednesday night. Djokovic triumphed 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 at the All-England Club to take a 3-0 lead in the head-to-head series. This will be their third consecutive encounter at the Grand Slam level, as the top-ranked Serb also got the job done 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 in the French Open quarterfinals.
Will anything be different this time around? It is true that Djokovic has not been at his absolute best in New York, but after each of the three occasions on which he has dropped a set he has responded by dominating his opponents the rest of the way (Holger Rune, Kei Nishikori, and Jenson Brooksby). Berrettini is not playing as well as he was before and during Wimbledon, either. The eighth-ranked Italian isn’t looking as dangerous in these conditions as he was on grass, and Djokovic should learn from his slow-starting mistakes of recent matches to turn in a more consistent performance.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
(4) Alexander Zverev vs. Lloyd Harris
Is Zverev the biggest threat to Djokovic’s calendar-year Grand Slam bid? Daniil Medvedev is the second favorite for the title behind the world No. 1, but a lot of that has to do with being on the other side of the draw. Nobody–not even Medvedev–is looking as good as Zverev right now. The fourth-ranked German is 15-0 since Wimbledon with Olympic gold, the Cincinnati title, and U.S. Open defeats of Sam Querrey, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Jack Sock, and Jannik Sinner. Only Sock took a set and the other three opponents forced a grand total of one tiebreaker.
Up next for the No. 3 seed is a third career contest against Harris, who trails the head-to-head series 2-0. The 46th-ranked South African went down 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 last fall on the indoor hard courts of Cologne before most recently losing 7-6(3), 6-2 in Cincinnati less than a month ago. Harris now finds himself in the biggest match of his life following wins this fortnight over Karen Khachanov (five sets), Ernesto Escobedo, Denis Shapovalov (6-4, 6-4, 6-4), and Reilly Opelka. As well as the underdog is playing at the moment, there is not much he can do unless Zverev’s level comes down. Given that there is no sign of that happening, Harris’ run will probably come to a relatively swift end.
Pick: Zverev in 3
Harris has realised his potential and gone to another level. I’ll be surprised if Zverev wins 3-zip even with Djokovic in his mind.
In the back of his mind
Even though Djokovic isn’t necessarily underperforming, he’s lacking consistency, so will be interesting to see if he wins this 3-0. On paper he should.
and it’s that lack of consistency that will hurt you when you come up against players performing at a similar level that are consistent.
Joker in 3; Zv in a pretty tough 4….but can we sing Eric Clapton’s biggest hit one more time?….”Layla” (Leylah)!!!!
I have a feeling Djoko wont get past Berrettini and Zverev…
Bu if he does win this US Open , he’ll really deserve his accolade
If Djokovic wins this US Open with what he head ahead of time he will certainly get my applause. This still take more than having the benefit of playing since 3 yrs of age and developing the most robust formula.
what he has ahead of him
Djoko is winning this ..100 percent. U can just see it in his eyes .
Berrettini always was and still is Djokovic’s biggest threat at the US Open lol
26 times major champion in the making, never doubt about this at all.
26 n rafa n fed ? 🙂
Rafa will get 23, fed 20 is his max.
I think 3 more is too much for rafa after his bum foot. Let him win one first…N 6 more for djoko too is a stretch
Well, Djoker has been very consistent in losing the first set. Sporting of him to spot his opponents a set before crushing them.
Berrettini needs to raise his level here.
Use his physical advantage and the fact Djokovic will thinking about the grand slam.
Berrettini freezes under pressure. All the top players know how to deal with pressure.
1 don’t agree I think Berrettini simply doesn’t have the variety in his game to challenge Djokovich.
And Zverev is going to have to play at the top of his game to win.
His mind completely shuts down, his feet stop moving and he can only barely just swing his arm. He needs to spend the rest of his career working on the mental component.
It was too difficult for me to watch last night. I checked out after Novak lost the first set.
Only just now getting around to see the result. It’s on TC this morning. What a fight! Novak has to feel it in his body after that display. I cringe to think he still has to play Zverev and Medvedev to reach his goal. It gets harder and harder…
Well, Big Al Novak made it past Berrettini but Zverev? It doesn’t seem possible. It’s the bridge too far, I reckon.
I think so too, commentators said in best of five Nole had a significant advantage compared to losing at the Olympics…but Zverev is a beast in long matches too and isnt one dimensional like Berrettini.
Nole does get to the final though I cant see him losing…
Its all very exciting no matter who ends up winning..
It is! WTA and ATP are both running some interesting storylines.
Suddenly I don’t want Sabalenka to lose to the Canadian teen. Fight, fight, Aryna!