The U.S. Open continues — Quotes from NYC

(1) Iga Swiatek vs. (6) Jessica Pegula
(22) Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Karolina Muchova
(26) Paula Badosa vs. (13) Emma Navarro
(7) Zheng Qinwen vs. (2) Aryna Sabalenka

How will the tournament continue to unfold? First up is Iga Swiatek against Jessica Pegula. Swiatek does hold a 6-3 head-to-head advantage that includes a win in the 2022 U.S. Open quarterfinals. After a rough, but still two-sets victory in her first round, Swiatek seems to be finding her comfort in the Big Apple. If you asked me following their first rounds, I don’t even know if I’d have Swiatek making the second week, but she has been able to play better tennis with each round. Pegula, however, also hasn’t dropped a set in her first four rounds, including wins over Shelby Rogers and Sofia Kenin. If Pegula’s run in Toronto and Cincinnati didn’t send alarm bells to Swiatek, the American’s win over Diana Shnaider in the round of 16 might. The matchup, of course, is all up to Swiatek, but Pegula hasn’t entered a Grand Slam quarterfinal — she’s currently 0-6 — with this much momentum. I hope it’s a night match, but something tells me we’re in for a three-set treat.
Prediction: Pegula in 3

In the second quarter, we definitely have some surprises. First up, Beatriz Haddad Maia was able to secure her second Grand Slam quarterfinal with a three-set win over Caroline Wozniacki, while Karolina Muchova found herself in her second consecutive quarterfinal in New York with a massive straight-setter over Jasmine Paolini. This matchup does have the potential to be a fun one, but Haddad Maia has struggled a little throughout the tournament, and Muchova has the toolbox players could only dream of. A year ago, Muchova was the reigning Roland Garros finalist and U.S. Open semifinalist but then had to have surgery for an injury that nearly ended her career. She came back at Wimbledon, and it’s almost like she’s never left. She hasn’t dropped a set, a stretch that includes not only that win over Paolini, but also Naomi Osaka in the first round. Ultimately, if Muchova starts out strong and doesn’t let the rust get to her, it could be the quickest quarterfinal.
Prediction: Muchova in 2

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Both Paula Badosa and Emma Navarro are aiming for their first Grand Slam semifinal, but each have had quite a different last 12 months. For Badosa, she withdrew just before she was slated to play Venus Williams because of her chronic back issues. Many, including myself, wondered if she would ever regain the form that took her to No. 2. Well, we’re here following a final run in Washington D.C. and then a semifinal showing in Cincinnati. This week, she’s continuing her momentum, save for her third-set tiebreaker over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the third round. For Navarro, she’s consistently finding new heights to climb and she was able to knock out Coco Gauff in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the second consecutive Slam. Finally winning her first U.S. Open match might’ve been enough to guide herself to the second week. She dropped four games in her first two matches before needing three sets over Marta Kostyuk and Gauff. She might have had a little more tennis than Badosa, but I don’t think that will matter much in this particular matchup. Badosa and Navarro have contrasting gamestyles, and it has the potential to be a three-set grind. Ultimately, it’s up to whichever player can handle their nerves better, in my opinion.
Prediction: Navarro in 3

In the last quarterfinal, we have the biggest blockbuster in Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen against Aryna Sabalenka. They faced off in the Australian Open final that Sabalenka won easily. They also met in last year’s U.S. Open quarterfinal — another one Sabalenka took in straight sets. Qinwen’s road to the quarterfinals has been long, to say the least, needing three sets in three of her four matches that included her Olympic final rematch against Donna Vekic in the fourth round. For a fan that loves Big Babe Tennis, this should be a fun one to watch, but it also can get ugly. Both Qinwen and Sabalenka can spray the ball and when the wheels fall off, they fall off. Still, Sabalenka is the WTA’s best hardcourt player and has been my pick for the title the whole time. Look for lots of big serves and aces between these two, but the big difference maker will be how Qinwen can defend the sheer power from Sabalenka.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2

For the semifinals and final? I’ll say Pegula over Muchova in 3 and Sabalenka taking out Navarro in 2 and another Sabalenka straight setter to round it out. What do you think? Let me know!

Onto links!

This Week in Women’s Tennis

Maria Sharapova is among the nominees on next year’s ballot to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

I absolutely love this essay by Taylor Townsend as she talks about overcoming her own issues with herself and tennis to be a warrior on and off of the court.

Caroline Dolehide always thought she’d play college tennis, but she turned pro instead. Now, she’s the latest player to earn her degree while playing thanks to the WTA’s partnership with Indiana University East.

For Ena Shibihara, she knew she had to give a shot at singles glory one more time and it’s paid off with a run to the second round of the U.S. Open as a qualifier.

Madison Keys sat down with the WTA Insider podcast to discuss her season and how her home renovation and wedding planning has helped her give some balance.

While Li Na shattered the glass ceiling for tennis in China, Zheng Qinwen could do even more for the area. In other Chinese player news, former World No. 12 Wang Qiang will finish playing WTA tournaments this year before retiring at the 2025 Chinese National Games.

Aryna Sabalenka and her mini me? One of the best moments of the U.S. Open’s first week:

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova captured the U.S. Open junior title in 2006, yet is still a force on the WTA Tour, thanks to some recent team additions.

Maria Mateas is finding herself playing the best tennis of her career thanks to her boyfriend, ATP pro and mixed doubles partner Mackie McDonald.

It’s great to see the free healthcare expanding for players on the WTA Tour, while coaches are starting to catch the eyes of tennis agents.

The Division 1 preseason rankings were unveiled with Mary Stoiana of Texas A&M headlining the singles field.

Tweet of the Week

The Honey Deuce is what I’ve been yearning all tournament long:

Five at The IX: U.S. Open Week 1

“Nobody is going to ask me about my bangs? I just cut them.” – Donna Vekic

“I love seeing players do well later on in their career. I think it’s a nice story because we get so attached to all the stories of everyone being so young, and it’s if you don’t do well right away, then all of a sudden you become like a journeywoman and you become the one that it never really worked out, and all this kind of negative stuff.” – Jessica Pegula

“I try to make sure that I am still there, 100 percent present as a mom, while I’m also trying to balance being the best tennis player that I possibly can be. I think that’s where sometimes it can get a little tricky. Obviously, my family is the most important thing to me, but at the same time, I love winning.” – Caroline Wozniacki

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“It’s important to not take yourself too seriously and not take things too seriously. I always like to kind of see the funny side of things. It helps me to be light-hearted. I care a ton about this sport and about what I’m doing, but I think nothing is worth being too serious that you can’t laugh at yourself or laugh at or with the people around you. That’s a big part of my personality and life.” – Emma Navarro

“Obviously I’ve talked a lot about wanting to have children and starting a family, and being excited about that, and just kind of stepping away from being in the spotlight. The idea of not traveling 40 weeks out of the year. I think that kind of sounds good at this point in my career with all the travel that I’ve done, even though I have enjoyed it a lot.” – Danielle Collins