Top seed and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal stormed to his seventh US Open quarter-final via an impressive 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Alexandr Dolgopolov Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The win -- Nadal’s 50th at Flushing Meadows – carried him to the quarterfinals where he will take on rising star Andrey Rublev. If he wins, a possible semifinal meeting against Roger Federer awaits Nadal.
Nadal vs. Federer?
This will be the first time that Nadal and Federer will face each other at the US Open. Nadal won the US Open twice, in 2010 and 2013, both at the expense of Novak Djokovic.
The Spaniard also reached the final in 2011, but he lost to Djokovic. "I think I played a solid match, not many mistakes," said the 31-year-old Nadal, who hit 23 winners and committed just 11 unforced errors against Dolgopolov.
Nadal said he expects a tough outing against Rublev, who reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open after ousting ninth seed David Goffin, 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3. The 19-year-old Rublev is now the youngest US Open quarterfinalist since Andy Roddick in 2001. Before beating Goffin, Rublev lost just one set against Aljaz Bedene, seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov, and Damir Dzumhur. Rublev is expected to climb to the Top 40 in the ATP Rankings after the US Open. He is also in line to grab a spot in the Next Gen ATP Finals.
Querrey makes it to quarterfinals
Sam Querrey became the first American to reach the US Open quarterfinals since 2011 after beating Mischa Zverev, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, in just one hour and 16 minutes. The 17th seed hit 55 winners, including 18 aces, and was almost perfect with just eight unforced errors to tally his best win so far in the tournament.
"I really couldn't have done anything better out there tonight, I was in the zone," said Querrey, who is expected to become the No. 1 American in the ATP Rankings for the first time since July 2013. Querrey also avenged the loss of John Isner to Zverev, whose net attack was ineffective against the American’s pinpoint forehand passing shots.For a spot in the semifinals, Querrey will face Kevin Anderson.
Diego Schwartzman reaches last eight
Diego Schwartzman fired 44 winners, including nine aces, en route to a 7-6(3), 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 win over defeated Lucas Pouille in two hours and 35 minutes to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinals. Schwartzman, who is expected to rise to a career-high Top 30 position in the ATP Rankings, will next play 12th seed, Pablo Carreno Busta.
