US OPEN

42 Americans started last week Monday in the main draw of the US Open (23 women and 19 men). One week later five Americans remain in the quarterfinals (4 women and 1 man).

First of all, let’s take a moment to appreciate this accomplishment and congratulate each and every one of them on their extraordinary feat to date (the last time there were this many American women this late in the draw was 2002).

The top half of the women’s draw still contains the number one ranked WTA Tour player, Karolina Pliskova, who wants to go one step further this year. Coco Vandeweghe will have her hands full against the big serving Czech, who continues to find a way to escape the clutches of defeat. Although the American leads their head-to-head 2:1, Pliskova won their last encounter (on clay).

Madison Keys will face the resurgent [418] Kaia Kanepi, who won their only match in 2015. Both players are recovering from injury and it will be interesting to see if the more confident Keys can turn the tables on the Estonian this time around.

PHOTO: Kaia Kanepi at the US Open in 2010.

In the bottom half, big sister Venus Williams will square off against another big serving Czech, Petra Kvitova. Things are not looking good for the American who has only won one match in their five previous encounters and that was in 2012; however, all encounters have gone to three sets.

Finally, Sloane Stephens will take on the crafty Latvian, Anastasija Sevastova. This will be their first encounter. Will the newly resurgent Stephens have too much power for the finesse of her opponent? Stephens is coming back after an eleven month lay-off due to foot surgery. Will Sevastova confound the American with her guile? In 2013 the Latvian quit tennis; she returned to the Tour in 2015 and is currently in the top twenty. She is projected to rank much higher after this US Open showing.

Sam Querrey, the newly minted American number one male player, continues to impress this season at the Majors. The last time we had an American male player this deep in the US Open draw was Andy Roddick in 2011. Despite his laid-back personality, Querrey possess a lethal serve and forehand and he seems ready to conquer the field. To get to the semifinals though, he will have to conquer a familiar foe, Kevin Anderson. Querrey leads 8:6; however, Anderson won their last meeting about a month ago.

SOURCE OF IMAGES:  serveandrally