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We have already witnessed many surprises at the US Open. In the round of 16, 2018 singles champions, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka, both lost to defending their titles. Other high-level players, like Simona Halep (second round), Ashleigh Barty (round of 16), Kei Nishikori (third round) and Roger Federer (quarter-finals) also had early departures.
The men's and women's semifinals will be held after the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Here's how to look at these. In the meantime, here are eight recipes from the first week and a half at USTA National Tennis Center Billie Jean King at Flushing Meadows:
Serve and play on the fly making a comeback
It's been a long time since the female game has not seen a player use the service and volley to make noise in a major championship. The game today is focused on the baseline and the servers are rarely seen moving fast towards the network.
But the style service and volley was put forward at the Stadium Arthe Ashe during the victory of Taylor Townsend on the American qualifier against Simona Halep in the second round. In the match against Halep, Townsend surprised the Wimbledon champion in 2019 with his aggressive attacks at the net.
In Townsend's first three rounds at the Open, she served and scored 45% of her points of service, winning 71 of her 126 attempts. Townsend not only proved her strategy was effective, but she also delighted the crowds of the US Open.
Williams has his best chance for No. 24
The 8th seed, Serena Williams, will face No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina Thursday in the semi-final for a chance to play her 10th final of the US Open. Williams, 23-time Grand Slam champion, is the only woman still in the running to win a major title. Williams only played in a three-set match during his run to the semi-finals. She is 8-2 in the women's field. It's her best chance, and obviously the last chance she'll have this year, to carry out her quest for the record 24th Grand Slam championship. A Grand Slam title this year would also be Williams' first major championship since he became a mother in 2017.
The Federer-Nadal championship will not take place
The US Open will not see the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal Championship this year. It's an obvious takeaway, but one that deserves reflection. Federer, 38, had problems with his upper back and neck during his five-set loss to Grigor Dimitrov. Federer should have no trouble reaching the semi-finals after registering a 7-0 record against Dimitrov in their previous meetings. With eliminated Djokovic (who Federer lost in a epic finale of WimbledonThis was the best opportunity for Federer to win his 21st Grand Slam title. Nadal, 33, will face Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night. This is a real win for tennis fans, who hoped the two would add to their historic rivalry and end up at the US Open for the first time. Now, with two of the Big Three of this year's tournament, the door is wide open to allow Nadal to get his 19th Grand Slam title and get closer to Federer for the all time record. Djokovic is not far behind with a total of 16 Grand Slam titles.
Kerber and Stephens end disappointing seasons
Angelique Kerber and Sloane Stephens, two of the best players on the women's pro tour, have ended disappointing seasons after their early departure to the US Open. Kerber's season ended with a three-set defeat in the first round against Kristina Mladenovic, while Stephens sided with Anna Kalinskaya in the first round. Kerber also experienced early departures in the first Grand Slams, retiring in the second round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and the fourth round at the Australian Open. Stephens also attended a fourth round outing at the Australian Open and sank in the quarterfinals at the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon.
Kerber, 31, had her best season in 2016 when she won the Australian Open and the US Open. She also won Wimbledon in 2018. Stephens, 26, won the US Open in 2017. Kerber and Stephens have undergone coaching changes this season, but none have been able to reach their full potential. potential in 2019. Kerber has no more coach on tour since July. after leaving Rainer Schuttler, Stephens fired Sven Groeneveld and found Kamau Murray, who was his coach during his victory at the Open in 2017.
American women booming
This year's US Open has shown positive signs for the future of American women's tennis. We have already seen the rise of American players Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Amanda Anisimova and Sofia Kenin, but we now have some new names to watch. Kristie Ahn and Taylor Townsend were both unexpected players to reach the knockout stages, but thanks to their success, they allowed 10 different Americans to reach the round of 16 or better at a Grand Slam event in 2019 :
- Serena Williams (QF – Aus Open, F, Wimbledon, R16 +, US Open)
- Sloane Stephens (R16, Open Aus, QF, French Open)
- Madison Keys (R16, Open Aus, QF, Open de France, R16 +, US Open)
- Danielle Collins (SF, Aus Open)
- Amanda Anisimova (R16, Open Aus, SF, Open de France)
- Alison Riske (QF, Wimbledon)
- Coco Gauff (R16, Wimbledon)
- Sofia Kenin (R16, French Open)
- Kristie Ahn (R16 +, US Open)
- Taylor Townsend (R16 +, US Open)
Injury in Djokovic's shoulder
Novak Djokovic was forced to retire in the round of 32 against Stan Wawrinka because of a pain in the left shoulder. He clearly suffered throughout the match and, after the defeat, told reporters that he was fighting his shoulder during his first three games at the Open. Although the severity of the injury is unknown, it is hoped that Djokovic will take some time to rest and recover from the injury, especially since the Grand Slam winner, 19 times elbow injury in 2017-18 , had surgery and a long break from tennis.
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