Each day during the US Open, we'll preview and predict three—in this case, four—must-see matches.
Pablo Carreño Busta [12] vs. Diego Schwartzman [29]
Schwartzman is looking forward to his first US Open quarterfinal in part because it’s the first chance he’s going to have to play his good friend, Carreño Busta. Somehow, the 26-year-old Spaniard and the 25-year-old Argentine have never faced off. They could get to know each other quite well in Tuesday’s opening singles match. Schwartzman and Carreño Busta are both smooth clay-courters who can obviously play on hard courts, and neither minds tracking down a lot of balls to earn a win.
Winner: Schwartzman
Anastasija Sevastova [16] vs. Sloane Stephens
The Latvian is 27 and the American is 24 but, like Schwartzman and Carreño Busta, they’ve never played. Unlike that match, though, this one will offer a contrast in styles. Stephens likes to hit big and beat her opponents with pace; Sevastova likes to dig in and use her touch and variety. On paper, this match could resemble the three-setter that Coco Vandeweghe and Agnieszka Radwanska played on Saturday. Like that one, the result will depend on the American. Sloane has just been “having fun” this summer, she says, and it’s working. Can she stay that relaxed in Ashe, with a chance at her second Grand Slam semifinal on the line?
Winner: Stephens