Jannik Sinner is the only major champion remaining in the top half of the draw and despite just turning 24 a fortnight ago, has more experience in the latter stages of the Grand Slam than the other 7 players combined. That said, he faces a player that has beaten him multiple times and will not hold back.
There was a chink in the armour of the world number 1 in his previous match. He was down 0-3 at a set all and could barely find the court with his forehand and Shapovalov’s aggressive style took him out of his comfort zone. He steadied an somehow won 12 of the next 15 games. Seeing him rattled with give Bublik confidence, as will the three-set win he had over the Italian at Halle prior to Wimbledon. The blueprint in that match was to serve big, play aggressive and get to net where possible. This has been his game plan throughout the tournament and it has worked wonders. Despite being pushed to five sets by Tommy Paul, Bublik is yet to have his serve broken. The two sets he lost were breakers and if he can continue to serve well, he is a chance of causing an upset.
Bet: Over 33.5 games ($1.85)
Value: Set 1 Tiebreak – YES ($4.00)
If Munar was ever going to make the second week of a major you would have put your house on it being at the French Open. His only ATP Tour final was on clay and the same applies to 16 of his 17 finals on the Challenger Tour. That does not change the fact that he has played excellent tennis in New York and that this is also the first time that Musetti is into the 4th Round here. It has been a favourable path for the Italian who had one match win from the French Open onwards leading into the tournament. I am not convinced about his form at the US Open either. Made enough returns to beat Mpetshi-Perricard, walked through David Goffin who is in the twilight of his career and benefited from Cobolli’s retirement in his most recent match. Munar holds a 4-1 advantage in the H2H which includes victory in their only prior meeting on a hard court.
Bet: Munar WIN ($2.85)
Auger-Aliassime is coming off a very impressive win over Alexander Zverev but history suggests this is a worse matchup for him. Rublev has won 7 of the previous 8 clashes between them including each of the last 5. To make matters worse, all but two of those have been on a hard or indoor surface – courts like these which play quick. Rublev does not take a backward step from the baseline and that is a key ingredient to success against the Canadian. This takes time away from Auger-Aliassime and is something he has been unable to counter. Rublev will give himself another chance to end his losing streak in major quarter finals.
Bet: Rublev WIN ($1.73)
Altmaier gave himself a chance of causing an upset when he won the opening set against De Minaur but the Aussie literally ran him into the ground and forced him to retire. He now faces a qualifier who had never won a Grand Slam match prior to this tournament. Riedi has been hiding out on the outside courts but there will be no hiding in this one. Playing on one of he major show courts against a top 10 player who will give you nothing in only your second Grand Slam… cannot see him winning a set.
Bet: De Minaur -7.5 ($1.80)