With two of the top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic suffering early exits, the US Open Men’s singles draw is wide open.
Out of the eight remaining male players in the US Open, only two are grand slam champions.
This will be cut down to one after Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev face off in what feels like a dress rehearsal for the final.
Both the players who defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, Botic van de Zandschulp and Alexei Popyrin, failed to progress in their next match, as this year’s US Open remains steadfast in its commitment to dramatic twists and turns.
This year’s US Open exit for Djokovic marks the first time since 2002 that the ‘Big Three’ will go without a Grand Slam, with his latest exit feeling like the page might finally be turned on that historic generation.
Andy Roddick tips America’s Frances Tiafoe for a run to the US Open final
The last eight of the men’s draw is set to be both unpredictable and entertaining, with two American’s in action and Jack Draper set to play his first major quarter-final.
With the hot favourites out and Sinner’s waltz to the title under threat from the 2021 champion in New York, Andy Roddick has backed the Russian to go one better than last year and secure his second major title.
“I am putting an American in the final, Tiafoe in the final! Let’s go. I don’t even want to break it down. I want to be in the building,” Roddick said on his podcast ‘Served’.
“I can’t take him in a head to head match up against Medvedev. Just based on match up. I am putting Frances in the final but I can’t take him against Meddy. I have Meddy winning.”
A quarter-finalist last year and semi-finalist 12 months before, Frances Tiafoe has grown into the US Open, avenging compatriot Ben Shelton in the third round after his defeat to him last year.
In red-hot form after muscling his way to the Cincinnati final, Tiafoe has brought a magnificent game to the tournament he wants to win most.
Can Frances Tiafoe reach the US Open final?
Tiafoe will have to get past the resurgent Grigor Dimitrov first if he is to even reach the semi-finals, a player he has only beaten once in four attempts.
As Roddick referenced too, Tiafoe’s record against Medvedev is even poorer, with the American outplayed in all five of their career matchups.
While the home crowd has willed their man on, he faces an uphill battle against Dimitrov, however comes in on an arguably better run.
An all-American semi-final could be set if Taylor Fritz repeats his Wimbledon heroics and defeats Alexander Zverev.
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