It’s the second week of the US Open, which may solely imply one factor: High 8 rankings!
Nevertheless, the US Open schedule doesn’t exactly care about what’s best for my very own deadlines. The schedule of play could be very uneven, splitting up the quarterfinals into a number of days and leaving me unable to create coherent High 8 rankings earlier than the gamers I write about have already begun the following spherical. It’s a bit impolite of them to not ask me for my schedule, however we soldier on.
Due to this, we’re going to run these rankings in two elements: one for the 4 males and 4 girls who will play on Tuesday, and a second for the remainder who play on Wednesday. That sadly means we gained’t technically have “High 8” rankings, however reasonably rankings of every half of the bracket — if you wish to examine them, examine the tiers everyone seems to be in, they’ll stay the identical throughout each. However by no means concern, I’ll be again for actual, coherent Last 4 lists. Onward!
Girls’s Draw (High Half)
Sabalenka has had a wierd 12 months, successful zero of the Grand Slams but additionally sustaining her World No. 1 rating all of the whereas. She has had points with unforced errors all season, and has been liable to beat herself even when nobody can really defeat her. However be all that as it could, Sabalenka nonetheless possesses the one scariest factor left within the bracket: floor strokes of mass destruction. I’ve seen her freeze opponents who’re in a wonderfully good place just because her two-handed backhanded was touched by God. Her forehand has a license to kill, and Sabalenka can nonetheless overwhelm anybody she faces.
Tier 2: May win it and no one would lose sleep, however in all probability gained’t
Pegula was on a collision course with teenage destroyer Mirra Andreeva within the quarterfinals, however fellow American Taylor Townsend took care of her throughout her Cinderella run. Due to this, saying she hasn’t had the toughest path by way of the bracket up to now could be a comical understatement. She hasn’t been and won’t be examined till she squares off with Aryna Sabalenka within the semifinals, and whereas Pegula has been enjoying wonderful tennis, there’s no proof of idea to choose her over Sabalenka, or Swiatek ought to she additionally advance.
The theme of this tier is “individuals you might not have remembered gained a serious however really did so be careful” (see under). Vondrousova snagged the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, could be very a lot in her prime at 26, and is a dwell underdog even when her path by way of this factor will undergo each high seed conceivable. Even when it’s been a number of years since she was High 10, she has an elite return of serve and tour-best drop photographs. And he or she simply destroyed Elena Rybakina. Additionally, I don’t put main champions within the “I’d be floored” tier, so everybody present some respect.
She’s not seeded on the US Open, however don’t be fooled: Krejcikova is a two time main champion, nonetheless in her 20s and liable to win this entire dang factor if given half an opportunity. She leads her lifetime collection with Pegula 2-1, and whereas the previous is enjoying significantly better as of late, this can be a dwell ball sport between the 2.
Tier 3: I’d be floored
(Nobody. Congratulations to all)
Males’s Draw (Backside Half)
It’s nearly becoming that we separate these lists by the 2 quantity ones (assuming Jannik Sinner advances, that’s… by no means take something without any consideration), as a result of it feels more true to provide them each the highest spot reasonably than break up hairs about hardcourt information and head to heads. We had been robbed of a Sinner-Alcaraz hardcourt battle at Cincinnati when Sinner needed to retire with harm, however Carlos seems fully wholesome and able to dominate. He faces a tough opponent in Jiri Lehecka, however not an actual menace. Alcaraz is the co-favorite so long as he’s standing upright.
Tier 2: May win it and no one would lose sleep, however in all probability gained’t
I can’t imagine he’s on this tier, but it surely simply actually, tremendous, duper, extremely, mega, giga seems like Novak is rarely going to beat each Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back to win a Grand Slam. There’s at all times an opportunity that Lehecka beats Carlos and Sinner falls earlier than the ultimate, however I simply don’t understand how Djokovic will be put within the high tier anymore. With each passing 12 months, he will get much less and fewer bodily in a position to compete.
I nearly put him within the subsequent tier, however the hopes of thousands and thousands of American males’s tennis followers relaxation solely on this man’s again so I gave him the advantage of the doubt. Fritz has, for the umpteenth time, proved that his consistency will get him an opportunity within the final eight of any main. He is sort of a chameleon, in a position to intestine out any sort of match offered his opponent isn’t really higher than him. However he’s simply that: a chameleon, not a predator, which he’ll must be to seal this deal. He’ll face an all-time gauntlet of Djokovic-Alcaraz-Sinner if he desires to win this factor, and uh… yeah. Fritz can also be 0-10 all time towards Djokovic. So this doesn’t bode properly.
Tier 3: I’d be floored
The 23-year-old is a superb participant, flying up the rankings 12 months after 12 months, and could also be an actual factor sooner or later. However his quarterfinal berth might be extra a results of his draw lining up completely than him threatening to truly win the factor. He’s really crushed Alcaraz on hardcourt this 12 months, so there’s an opportunity we witness one thing loopy. However in a 5 set match? I wouldn’t wager on it.
