- Zverev wins hard fought match against Sinner
- German to meet Alcaraz in last eight
- Qinwen to face Sabalenka after win over Jabuer
The 2023 US Open continues to deliver thrilling moments as Germany’s Alexander Zverev, seeded 12th, emerged triumphant in a marathon match against the sixth seed, Jannik Sinner, to secure his spot in the quarter-finals. The epic battle that unfolded in the heart of New York kept spectators on the edge of their seats as Zverev clinched a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, concluding at an astonishing 01:39 local time.
Zverev’s journey to this stage of the tournament is a testament to his resilience. The 2020 US Open runner-up missed last year’s hard-court Grand Slam event due to a serious ankle injury. With this victory, he marked a remarkable comeback and described it as one of the defining moments of his career after enduring a challenging period of recovery.
In the upcoming quarter-finals, Zverev is set to face the top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, who has been in formidable form throughout the tournament. Zverev’s clash with the young Spanish sensation promises to be an electrifying encounter that tennis fans eagerly anticipate.
In another exciting match, third seed Daniil Medvedev, known for his tenacity, overcame the challenge posed by Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Medvedev’s gritty performance saw him rally from a set down to secure a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory, setting up a quarter-final showdown with his compatriot, Andrey Rublev. Rublev, seeded eighth, had earlier defeated Britain’s Jack Draper.
High quality performance from Alcaraz
Meanwhile, defending champion,Alcaraz continued to assert his dominance in the tournament. Alcaraz faced off against world number 61 Arnaldi in the fourth round, showcasing his exceptional skills on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 20-year-old Spaniard displayed impressive shotmaking, registering 31 winners on his way to a commanding 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Arnaldi, in his first Grand Slam fourth round appearance, fought valiantly but ultimately couldn’t overcome the two-time major winner. Alcaraz has now won 15 of his last 16 US Open matches.
Pegula and Jabeur out, convincing win for Sabalenka
On the women’s side, there were notable upsets in the fourth round. American Jessica Pegula, considered one of the tournament favourites, faced a frustrating defeat at the hands of her compatriot, Madison Keys, with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-3. Pegula’s Grand Slam ambitions will have to wait for another tournament, as she has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at any major event, despite her strong performances on the WTA Tour.
Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur also experienced disappointment as she succumbed to a 6-2, 6-4 defeat at the hands of China’s rising star, Zheng Qinwen. The 20-year-old Qinwen’s victory marked her first appearance in a Grand Slam quarter-final, setting the stage for a promising future in the sport. Her next challenge will be facing Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka, a formidable opponent known for her aggressive style of play. Sabalenka, who reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2021 and 2022, continued her strong run with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win against Russian 13th seed Daria Kasatkina.
Sabalenka will ascend to number one in the world rankings at the conclusion of the tournament after Iga Swaitek’s exit in the round of 16.
Betting Implications
Novak Djokovic remains the bookies’ favourite ahead of Alcaraz. Both have tough quarter-final matches and should Alcaraz prevail, he faces either third seed Medvedev or eighth seed Rublev. Should Djokovic overcome Taylor Fritz he will be up against another American, 10th seed Frances Tiafoe or unseeded Ben Shelton. Djokovic looks, on paper, to have a slightly easier passage, however, the Americans are full of confidence and will enjoy the support of the home crowd. At the time of writing, Djokovic is priced at 11/10 with SpreadEx ahead of Alcaraz 7/4 and Medvedev 15/2.
Sabalenka is favourite for the women’s singles. At the time of writing bet365 have the second seed at 7/4 ahead of Coco Gauff (5/2) and Karolina Muchova 11/2.
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