By the end of Monday's play at the 2023 US Open, the quarterfinals stage will be set in the men's and women's singles draws. We're also approaching the business end of the doubles competitions, while the junior events progress through the early rounds.
On Day 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Top 10 seeds Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Daniil Medvedev, Marketa Vondrousova and Andrey Rublev all advanced, while Madison Keys scored the biggest upset of the day by knocking off third seed Jessica Pegula in an all-American matchup.
In the Arthur Ashe Stadium nightcap, Alexander Zverev won a five-set thriller against Jannik Sinner. The four-hour, 41-minute marathon ended at 1:39 a.m., making it both the longest match and the latest finish of the 2023 US Open.
Let's take a trip around the grounds for an executive summary of Monday's top stories.
Keys reaches second straight major QF
When Keys is at her very best, her powerful game can overwhelm any opponent. That was the case against Pegula on Monday, when a dazzling display of first-strike tennis kept one of the game's great fighters from ever sinking her teeth into the match.
In a 6-1, 6-3 win, Madison keyed her game on attacking early and keeping the rallies short, and the tactic worked a treat to deprive her friend and countrywoman of the rhythm she thrives on.
Keys' 2017 US Open final run started a streak of five quarterfinal showings (or better) across seven majors. She's now reached that stage in consecutive majors for the first time since 2018 by reaching the last eight for the third time in Flushing Meadows.
“I’ve had so many amazing moments in New York,” Keys said. “Being able to, at any moment, come back from difficult positions in matches, in front of these crowds, has been amazing."
After winning an all-American battle, she can bank on the full backing of the Ashe faithful in her quarterfinal matchup with Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova. The home crowd could not get Peyton Stearns over the line against the Czech, who used her variety to overcome the 21-year-old American, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2.
Vondrousova will take an 11-match major winning streak into the quarterfinals as she bids for back-to-back Slam titles.
Alcaraz marches on, faces Zverev next
Alcaraz booked his quarterfinal place with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 cruise against US Open debutant Matteo Arnaldi. Alcaraz faced just one break point in the match and has dropped just one set in his four wins this tournament.
With his last-eight spot secured, the Spaniard was free kick his feet up and enjoy the titanic tussle between Sinner and Zverev, who were playing for the right to face the defending champion—though he was surely in bed long before the late-night finish.
In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz showcased his tennis IQ with an on-the-nose preview of the Ashe showdown.
"It's going to be a really fun match to watch tonight between them," he said. "Let's see who I'm going to play because going to be a really tough quarterfinal [against either man]."
While Alcaraz understood the appeal of a potential Sinner rematch—one year after their own late-night epic in Ashe—he can now prepare for his sixth meeting with Zverev. The German owns a 3-2 edge in their budding rivalry.
"Against Sascha, the head-to-head is really, really close. We've played great matches," the top seed said. "He's playing really, really well. This year he's finding his top level again."
As for Zverev, he was happy to play spoiler and prevent the quarterfinal many fans had circled once the draw came out. Against Alcaraz, he'll look to reprise that role.
"I think everybody, before the tournament, was looking for two matchups: Alcaraz-Novak in the final, and Alcaraz-Sinner in the quarterfinals," he said with a grin. "So maybe I can make sure that both of those don't happen. It's obviously going to be one of the toughest matches for me [against Alcaraz in the quarters] and I need to recover, that's for sure."
The other top-half men's quarterfinal will see third seed Daniil Medvedev take on his good friend Andrey Rublev. Medvedev braved the humid conditions in Armstrong and a hot start from Alex de Minaur to earn a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory, advancing to the US Open quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Rublev, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 winner against Jack Draper, is into his ninth Grand Slam quarterfinal, but has yet to progess beyond that stage at a major.
Sabalenka makes another statement as the new No.1 in waiting
With Iga Swiatek's loss to Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday night, Aryna Sabalenka is guaranteed to debut as world No. 1 following the US Open. The two-time New York semifinalist looked the part on Monday in a 6-1, 6-3, win against Daria Kasatkina in the Ashe evening opener.
The second seed has been second to none this fortnight. In her four straight-sets wins, she has lost just 16 games. She ripped 31 winners on 66 points won against Kasatkina to set up a quarterfinal meeting with 20-year-old Zheng Qinwen of China.
Zheng ended the gritty run of fifth seed and returning finalist Ons Jabeur with a 6-2, 6-4 victory in Armstrong. Her new partnership with "super coach" Wim Fissette has reaped instant rewards with a first Grand Slam quarterfinal showing.
The other top-half quarterfinal will see 10th seed and Roland Garros runner-up Karolina Muchova meet 30th seed Sorana Cirstea.
Cirstea followed up her three-set upset of fourth seed Elena Rybakina with a 6-3, 6-3 win against 15th seed Belinda Bencic. In two matches, that's a Wimbledon champion and an Olympic gold medalist knocked off by the Romanian.
Muchova, who has yet to face a seeded opponent this tournament, dropped her first set of the fortnight but recovered to score a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 result against Wang Xinyu.
Gauff, Pegula continue doubles drive with No. 1 in sight
Pegula may be out of the women's singles draw, but she is still standing in women's doubles and mixed. If she and Coco Gauff reach the women's final, they will claim the world No. 1 ranking, which would mark a debut at that spot for Pegula.
The Americans scored a 6-4, 6-1 win against 14th seeds Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse to advance to the quarterfinals.
Read our full Monday doubles wrap below.
In mixed doubles, the fan-favorite duo of Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend advanced to the semis with a 6-4, 6-2 upset of seventh seeds Demi Schuurs and Hugo Nys.
Junior field shrinks
The second day of junior competition saw 32 boys’ and girls’ singles matches played, showcasing 64 players, as well as 16 doubles matches. A marathon between Danil Panarin and American wild card Cyrus Mahjoob went for nearly four hours, with Panarin ultimately advancing in a third-set tiebreak.
Read our full Monday junior wrap below.
Shot of the Day:
Medvedev brought the house down with this one in Louis.
Quote of the Day:
“I think she’s a bigger hitter on tour than a Sabalenka or an Iga or even a Rybakina. I mean, she’s right there if not more powerful.” — Jessica Pegula on Madison Keys
Tweet of the Day:
We enjoyed some lighter moments with a few wheelchair competitors ahead of the Tuesday start of the US Open Wheelchair Championships presented by Deloitte.
Photo of the Day:
Jack Draper earned some style points for this tweener against Rublev, but the Briton was beaten in four sets.
