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World number one Jannik Sinner will continue his quest for a first U.S. Open title when he meets American Tommy Paul on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.
Sinner received a warm reception from New York fans despite skepticism from some other players about his decision to clear himself of two positive drug tests in March, but he can expect a passionate crowd to support rising star Paul over the Labor Day holiday.
The only remaining former champion, Daniil Medvedev, will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges after the unexpected withdrawals of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, while women’s top seed Iga Swiatek will battle this year’s two-time Grand Slam runner-up Jasmine Paolini, sixth seed Jessica Pegula and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki for a place in the quarterfinals.
AFP Sport looks at three matches from the eighth day of the 2024 Grand Slam tennis tournament, which ends on September 8 (x denotes seeded players):
Jannik Sinner (Italy x1) v Tommy Paul (USA x14)
Asked if the tough losses to defending champion Djokovic and former champion Alcaraz gave him confidence in his chances of winning, Paul summed it up succinctly.
“Well, I’m playing against the No. 1 player in the world, so I don’t know if I’m thinking too much about it, like ‘chance,'” Paul said. “But it’s definitely an opportunity to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the next round, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Sinner has won two of the past three meetings, including their only hard-court clash in Toronto last year. The Italian advances to the last 16 for the sixth straight year as he seeks to add a U.S. Open title to his Australian Open triumph in January.
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) v Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA x22)
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, who temporarily retired after winning the 2018 Australian Open, has been chasing her first title since, without dropping a set en route to a fourth-round clash with Haddad Maia.
The two-time U.S. Open runner-up won three straight matches for the third time since her comeback. Last year, she also reached the last 16 at Flushing Meadows, taking on eventual champion Coco Gauff in three sets.
“I love playing here,” Wozniacki said. “Any chance I get to play one match here is great.”
Alex de Minaur (Australia x10) v Jordan Thompson (Australia)
This all-Australian battle promises to be exciting, with the 30-year-old Thompson, who eliminated seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz in the second round and 30th seed Matteo Arnaldi in the third round, aiming to beat another seeded player.
“There’s definitely an Australian player in the quarter-finals and I hope it’s me,” Thompson said after arranging a clash with de Minaur, who beat the injured Dan Evans in the third round.
Thompson, whose world ranking is expected to rise to a career-high top 30 from his current 32nd, won his first ATP title in Los Cabos this year, reached the final in Atlanta and competed in the Paris Olympics.
De Minaur has reached the second week of four Grand Slam tournaments this year, the first Australian to do so since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago.
“It’s great that Australian tennis showed strength,” de Minaur said. “Alexey (Poppin) played a great match and beat Novak. Jordan played great tennis. It’s a shame that we had to play against each other.
“I would just say we’re all from Sydney – so there’s something special there,” he added.
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