How to watch: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on ESPN2; and streaming on the ESPN app.
The singles round of 16 and doubles quarterfinal matches continue on Monday at the United States Open. With the top seeds out in each of the competitions, it seems as if this year’s titles may be up for grabs for whoever can string together one good run.
Here are some matches to keep an eye on.
Because of the number of matches cycling through courts, the times for individual matchups are at best a guess and are certain to fluctuate based on the times at which earlier play is completed. All times are Eastern.
Arthur Ashe Stadium | NOON
Serena Williams vs. Maria Sakkari
On Saturday, as Williams came to the end of the first set of her matchup against Sloane Stephens, it seemed for a moment that there was nowhere for the 23-time major champion to go. Stephens was playing well — controlling points, knocking Williams’s powerful groundstrokes back with ease. But Williams drew on her experience and mental fortitude and simply started to play better. It’s a pattern we see all too often with great champions: There always seems to be an extra gear, a reserve of talent that comes out just when it needs to. Now that mental toughness will be tested as Williams plays Sakkari for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Sakkari, the 15th seed, beat Williams in three sets during their meeting at the Western & Southern Open last week. Sakkari has been having a breakthrough year, reaching her first major round of 16 at the Australian Open in January and now repeating that feat. In her news conference, Sakkari acknowledged the tough task in front of her. Asked what the key had been to beating Serena last week, Sakkari demurred, saying: “Serena is Serena. You have to come up with some great tennis. Otherwise there is no chance against her.”
Williams will need to go into the match the way she finished her third round — with energy. If she can make it clear from the onset that Sakkari will need to play great tennis to scrounge a game, then she can create unforced errors as Sakkari tries to push her game to its limits.
Louis Armstrong Stadium | 4 p.m.
Matteo Berrettini vs. Andrey Rublev
At last year’s U.S. Open, Berrettini and Rublev were having breakout tournaments, impressing pundits and fans alike with their explosive styles of tennis. They met in the fourth round, where Berrettini overcame Rublev in three sets.
Now they meet once again in the fourth round, no longer as unknowns but as clear challengers for the title. Rublev has yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament and lost only four games in his runaway victory over Salvatore Caruso in the third round. Berrettini also has not lost a set in this tournament, and although his score lines may not seem as convincing at a glance, the performances have been dominant.
It’s a fascinating show of the spectrum of tennis players’ physicality to see this matchup in particular. Rublev and Berrettini both resemble boxers — but of entirely different weight classes. Rublev looks like a lightweight, one who makes it difficult to understand where the immense strength of his flat, probing shots comes from. Berrettini is the heavyweight, pure muscle whose power needs to be brought under control with heavy topspin, lest his ball fly to the top of the stands. But on a tennis court, there are no weight classes, and these two will be judged by who can take control of their powerful baseline exchanges.
Arthur Ashe Stadium | 7 p.m.
Frances Tiafoe vs. Daniil Medvedev
Tiafoe, the last American standing in the men’s singles competition, cruised past Marton Fucsovics in their third-round matchup. Tiafoe relied heavily on his powerful serving to set up easy points and executed on a plan of action that was clear and businesslike. He spoke during his post-match interview on Saturday about his determination to increase his level of focus, explaining that while he has fun on the court, he has been working with his coach to improve in this area. Against Medvedev, that focus will come into question.
Medvedev, last year’s runner-up, has not lost a set on his way to the round of 16, and on average has lost only eight games per match. While Tiafoe has a powerful serve, Medvedev is an adept returner, his lanky frame and quick reflexes allowing him to redirect powerful serves deep into an opponent’s court. His excellent court movement allows him to play defensively, wearing down opponents until they give him a short ball to attack or commit an unforced error. While Medvedev will be highly favored in today’s match, Tiafoe can give him a strong challenge if he is able to bring the high level of play that he demonstrated on Saturday.
Arthur Ashe Stadium | 10 p.m.
Sofia Kenin vs. Elise Mertens
Kenin, the Australian Open champion, has won twice before in matchups with Mertens. But although the young American came out on top in both encounters, neither was a decisive victory. The stage is set for another tough competition, as both players have been on form in this year’s U.S. Open.
Neither has dropped a set on her road to the round of 16, and each has done so in the face of dominant players. An all-around player with plenty of shots to choose from, Kenin has relied on her outstanding backhand to push past opponents. Even while cramping in the second set of her matchup against Ons Jabeur, her court movement was unimpeachable, and it will be interesting to see if she makes any changes to avoid similar discomfort today.
Mertens, who reached the quarterfinals at last year’s U.S. Open, has had some struggles with her serving form through the first week of the competition. If she’s going to upset the second seed, she’ll need to be more consistent and try to force some returning errors.
Other important matches:
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Alizé Cornet versus Tsvetana Pironkova, Louis Armstrong Stadium | 2 p.m.
The unranked Pironkova’s fairy-tale return to the WTA tour continues, in her first tournament since Wimbledon in 2017. She has upset two seeded players without dropping a set en route to the round of 16. She’ll be hoping to continue that streak on the strength of her powerful serve and backhand.
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Victoria Azarenka versus Karolina Muchova, Louis Armstrong Stadium | 7 p.m.
Azarenka, a two time Australian Open champion, looks as dominant as she did at the peak of her career. The 24-year-old Muchova has a game built in a similar style, and the clash between these two full-court players should be enthralling.
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Dominic Thiem versus Felix Auger-Aliassime, Arthur Ashe Stadium | 2 p.m.
Thiem, who has been to three Grand Slam finals, is now the top-ranked player left in this year’s competition, but Auger-Aliassime has a style of play that the fast hardcourts of Flushing Meadows favor.
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Alex de Minaur versus Vasek Pospisil, Louis Armstrong Stadium | 11 a.m.
Pospisil, a doubles specialist with a big serve, is looking to reach the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the second time. De Minaur, a fleet-footed defensive specialist, will look to outmaneuver him for a chance to go to his first.
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Neal Skupski/Jamie Murray versus Bruno Soares/Mate Pavic, Court 17 | 1 p.m.
Murray and Soares, opponents today, won two Grand Slam doubles titles together in 2016. In the highly tactical and choreographed world of doubles, it will be interesting to see how they try to outfox their former partners today.
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Nicole Melichar/Xu Yifan versus Hayley Carter/Luisa Stefani, Court 17 | 5 p.m.
Both of these pairs began playing together within the past year, and the quality of the partnerships has been clear. While communication is clearly stressed by any doubles coach, both teams seem to move as if in lock step with each other, and with the lack of fans, even casual viewers will be able to gain insight into their split-second decision-making and how to be an effective partner.
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September 07, 2020 at 11:01AM
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2020 U.S. Open: What to Watch on Monday - The New York Times
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