Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, and Daniil Medvedev all moved into the quarterfinals at the US Open on Monday as most – but not all – of the favorites continued to roll into the second week of the tournament.
Women’s No. 2 seed Sofia Kenin proved to be a notable exception, losing 6-3, 6-3 to No. 16 seed Elise Mertens.
Mertens, Serena Move into Quarterfinals
Kenin came into the fourth-round matchup as a -132 favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Mertens used a solid baseline game to take the sting out of Kenin’s game and get her first win over the Australian Open champion.
“I was just very focused on my game, not too much on her game,†Mertens told reporters after the match. “I think my first serve went pretty well. Also throughout the whole match, I didn’t really drop anything. That’s I think where I’m most pleased at, that I’m stable at every point.â€
Williams overcame losing a second-set tiebreaker to beat No. 15 Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 6-3 and move on to the US Open quarterfinals for the 12th straight time. She will be one of three American women in the quarterfinals, alongside Jennifer Brady and Shelby Rogers.
“I have to be deadly honest: I wasn’t brave enough in the third set,†Sakkari said after the loss. “I kind of like, not choked, but didn’t [convert] my chances. And if you don’t get your chances with a good Serena against you, it’s done.â€
Medvedev, Thiem Dominant in Fourth Round Victories
On the men’s side of the draw, both Thiem and Medvedev moved on in straight sets on Monday. Thiem beat No. 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1, while Medvedev overwhelmed American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-1, 6-0.
With Novak Djokovic out of the US Open, Medvedev and Thiem have emerged as the favorites to win the men’s side of the tournament. Both looked up to the task on Monday.
“It doesn’t matter at all if the Big Three are here or not,†Thiem said afterwards. “Everybody wants their hands on the trophy. It doesn’t really matter who they’re going to beat.â€
Meanwhile, Medvedev defeated Tiafoe in just one hour and 38 minutes, and could be peaking at just the right time.
“I’m playing better every match,†Medvedev said. “I hope this can continue. I’m pleased, actually, with the fact I’ve won all the sets.â€
US Open Odds (Tuesday Quarterfinals)
- No. 28 Jennifer Brady (-385) vs. No. 23 Yulia Putintseva (+290)
- No. 5 Alexander Zverev (-265) vs. No. 27 Borna Coric (+220)
- No. 4 Naomi Osaka (-480) vs. Shelby Rogers (+350)
- No. 12 Denis Shapovalov (-170) vs. No. 20 Pablo Carreno Busta (+138)
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Women’s No. 4 seed Naomi Osaka is back in action on Tuesday, taking on Shelby Rogers in their quarterfinal matchup. Osaka comes in as a -480 favorite to beat Rogers (+350). FanDuel sees Osaka as the +175 favorite to win the US Open, ahead of Serena Williams (+260).
Also in the evening session on Arthur Ashe, men’s No. 12 Denis Shapovalov (-170) takes on No. 20 Pablo Carreno Busta (+138). Shapovalov has never before reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal, with FanDuel listing the Canadian as a +1200 pick to take the men’s US Open title.
