PREVIEW: 2022 Men’s US Open – Selected Quarterfinals

2022 ATP Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Quarterfinals- 7th September

Nick Kyrgios (23) (19/100) vs Karen Khachanov (27) (36/10)

Funnily enough, there is some beef between these two (not too strange in the world of Kyrgios). Kyrgios refereed to Khachanov as an ‘absolute pelican’ during an online spat in 2020 (you know that period where Kyrgios became a philanthropist). I honestly wasn’t sure whether he had the mental fortitude to go big again this year after Wimbledon.

But he has reached the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in his career to back up that maiden Grand Slam final appearance. And we have got a bit of everything from the combustible Aussie this year. He had a typically temperamental outing against Benjamin Bonzi, spitting and swearing at his own box. It also featured a curious accusation of marijuana use. But he has also played some efficient tennis, dispatching of number one seed Danil Medvedev in convincing style to reach the final eight.

He hit 53 winners and won 75% of his first serve points against the Russian. That’s impressive against a returning juggernaut like Medvedev. But perhaps the biggest change in Kyrgios’ game has been his increased desire to get to the net. That variety has seen him evolve from talented sideshow attraction to genuine Grand Slam threat.

Karen Khachanov hasn’t quite lived up to his massive potential. The Russian obviously came to prominence with that 2018 Paris Masters victory. But since then, his career has been a little bit erratic.

He won an Olympic Silver Medal last year that must have boosted his flagging confidence. But he never arrived at Flushing Meadows with anything resembling great form. But the industrious baseliner has played some quality tennis this fortnight, reaching his first US Open quarterfinal and first Grand Slam quarter since Wimbledon last year. He enjoyed a fairly easy ride in the early stages, beating Kudla and Monterio in his first two matches.

Brit prospect Jack Draper then withdrew from their 3rd round match when it was quite evenly balanced. But he had pull out all the stops to take down two-time US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spaniard arrived in New York in excellent fettle after claiming the Montreal title. But Khachanov outlasted Carreno Busta in a marathon five-set slugfest.

He hit more winners than unforced errors in that match and served very soundly. But can he bounce back from what must have been an absolutely exhausting affair?

Verdict: Khachanov to win in five at 10/1- The current head-to-head stats read 1-1. Khachanov won a tight three-setter at Cincinnati in 2019. Kyrgios avenged that defeat with a herculean five-set win at the 2020 Aussie Open.

I know this goes against conventional wisdom, but I just have a bit of a Khachanov feeling. He may not have the same raw power as the Aussie. In fact, he is very much the anthesis of the Aussie.

He is loath to come to the net and will be confident of passing Kyrgios when he approaches. But I honestly think that Carreno Busta victory will galvanize the Russian. Plus, Kyrgios is always due a potential capitulation. Khachanov could frustrate the Aussie in an epic encounter.

Andrey Rublev (9) (11/10) vs Frances Tiafoe (22) (8/11)

Russian hardcourt dynamo Andrey Rublev shrugged off a rain delay to breeze past the in-form Cameron Norrie in straight-sets. He hit 30 winners in a dismissive display that took him to his 3rd US Open quarterfinal. Rublev has a reputation for being a player who flatters to deceive on the big stage.

This will be his 5th Grand Slam quarterfinal. But the 11-time ATP Tour winner has just struggled with the physical wear-and-tear of Grand Slam challenges. I personally think he has been guilty of playing too much tennis in the regular season. Sure, it helped him become an ATP 500 legend. But I think the sheer workload has impacted on his chances of Grand Slam success.

Still, this year could be a massive opportunity, with many of the would-be contenders absent or eliminated. He will look to dominate with his powerful serve and forehand. It’s pure simplicity. And to think, he came within an inch of being eliminated by Shapovalov in the 3rd round.

This has truly been a Grand Slam of huge upsets. But none have surprised me more than Tiafoe’s 4th round victory against the indomitable Rafa Nadal.

Sure, Nadal looked a little bothered by his abdominal issues. But it doesn’t take away from what was arguably the greatest performance of the American’s career. I have long stated that Tiafoe is one of the most frustrating players on the tour.

The 24-year-old has too much talent for someone with just one title to his name. But the stars just aligned for the big-serving American in this potential star-making turn. He struck 18 aces and a total 49 winners against the Spanish bulldog.

He only committed 28 unforced errors in the process. That’s incredible tennis for a player notoriously erratic with his groundstrokes. Tiafoe has now reached his 2nd Grand Slam quarterfinal following the 2019 Aussie Open.

His game should suit these lighting surfaces to a tee. But can such an inconsistent player possibly replicate that type of performance to take down Rublev?

Verdict: Rublev to win in four sets at 9/2- They share a 1-1 head-to-head record. Tiafoe actually beat the Russian in an epic five-set encounter during last year’s US Open. Could that have left some scar tissue for the Russian?

He avenged that defeat with a comfy Indian Wells victory earlier this year. I just think that Rublev needs to seize this opportunity. Nadal is out and Djokovic is absent. Medvedev and Tsitsipas have been eliminated (Zverev also never entered).

Rublev is a powerful baseliner who has consistently failed to prove himself on the Grand Slam stage. He is similar to Tiafoe in many ways. They both have big serves and forehands that look to overwhelm. But they both tend to hit a few double-faults in tense moments.

So, I think the most aggressive returner will prevail. I just think Rublev is more consistent than the American (off both wings).