US Open
On Monday, Andrei Rublev reached the quarterfinals for the sixth time in a major tournament and for the third time at the US Open. The 24-year-old Russian safely eliminated the number seven seeded British player Cameron Norrie 6:4 6:4 6:4 after almost two and a half hours. Rublev has his third chance at the semifinals in New York after 2017 and 2020. His opponent is currently being determined between number two seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal and number 22 seeded USA Frances Tiafoe.
With a lot of effort, the top seeded Pole Iga Swiatek then prevailed against the unseeded German Jule Niemeier with 2:6 6:4 6:0. The sensational Wimbledon quarter-finalist this year from Dortmund was well on course for the round of eight in Flushing Meadows. She led against Swiatek 6: 2 2: 1 and break, but then the French Open winner, who was already so strong this year, caught herself. After a total of seven breaks in the second round, she equalized in sets. But then Niemeier had shot her powder and finally went under.
“I’m proud that I haven’t lost hope. She played a great first set,” Swiatek said on the court. She now meets American Jessica Pegula. The Czech and two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova had unexpectedly eliminated them 6:3 6:2. Swiatek is in the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time, it’s her third in a major this year.
“It was hard”
Previously, Rublev had been spared a trembling game. He had needed five sets in round one against the Serb Laslo Djere and in round three against the Canadian Denis Shapovalov, he was spared this fate in the third duel with Norrie.
“It was hard. I played a good match. He was a bit tired, that helped me. I’m very happy,” said Rublew, who impressed with 30 winners and only 17 unforced errors. It is already the second major quarterfinal this year after the French Open for the Muscovite, who, like his compatriot Daniil Medvedev, was not allowed to play in Wimbledon because of the Ukraine war.
Whether he can actually move into the semi-finals of one of the four major tournaments for the first time depends, among other things, on Rafael Nadal’s physical condition. Nadal was favorite against Tiafoe and would be favorite against Rublev under normal circumstances.
US Open in New York
(USA, 27.915.200 Dollar, Hardcourt)
