US Open Popcorn Matches: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams headline Day Four
The US Open action rumbles on into Day Four on Thursday, with Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams among those in action.
Here are a selection of the popcorn matches you won’t want to miss.
Iga Swiatek v Sloane Stephens
It is sometimes quite easy to forget that Sloane Stephens is a Grand Slam champion. It did happen a while ago, and she has definitely had a career delcine since, but the US Open has always brought the best out of her.
Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, is very much the top dog at in the WTA right now. She is world number one, a two-time major winner, and she still appears to have her best days ahead of her.
It promises to be a genuinely fascinating contest between a former champion and a future great.
Fabio Fognini v Rafael Nadal
What did we learn about Rafael Nadal from his opening round match? Aside from him attempting to adjust his serving motion to protect his abdomen, not much.
He was in generally good form though, despite dropping a set. His movement was fine and his groundstrokes as fierce as ever.
Rinky Hijikata provided a certain kind of test with the young Australian bursting with an abundance of energy. Fabio Fognini won’t bring that, but he will bring plenty of niggle and nouse.
Borna Coric v Jenson Brooksby
If you haven’t had the chance to see Jenson Brooksby yet, this could be a great opportunity to seek out one of his matches.
The young American is brilliantly unorthodox and full of running. The US Open really seems to suit his mentality too.
Meanwhile, Borna Coric is arguably playing the best tennis of his life and the form has come out of absolutely nowhere. He won Cincinnati last month, beating Rafael Nadal on the way, and he appears to have carried that form, and confidence, with him to New York.
Lucie Hradecka/Linda Noskova v Serena Williams/Venus Williams
You get the feeling that, no matter what happens, this tournament will be remembered as the Serena Williams US Open.
Her intent to retire after the tournament has caused an even bigger buzz that usual around all of her singles matches, and it will be no different for the doubles.
She will be teaming with big sister Venus Williams and the fact it has been put on Arthur Ashe tells you everything you need to know about the kind of atmopshere expected.
Hugo Gaston/Lorenzo Musetti v Thanasi Kokkinakis/Nick Kyrgios
Staying with the doubles, the Australian Open champions are in action. Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis were first-round foes in the men’s singles, but they have great on-court chemistry, as they demonstrated in Melbourne earlier this year.
The New York crowd probably won’t energize them like the ones in Australia did, but they are still an electric combination and usually put on a show.
Their opponents are an eye-catching duo as well, with big things especially expected of Lorenzo Musetti.
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