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Monday, September 4, 2023

US.8- Killer Queen


This time, it was a queen who was the killer.




Zheng Qinwen, aka "QUEENwen," has been lurking just under the surface on tour for more than a year. She sprang up for all to see at the '22 Roland Garros, upsetting Simona Halep and reaching the Round of 16, where she pushed Iga Swiatek to three sets. At the U.S. Open, she knocked off Alona Ostapenko in the 1st Round.

Zheng was almost immediately identified as a player who would soon be "of note," and a potential future star. She was awarded the tour's Newcomer of the Year honor and garnered the sort of attention not seen for a Chinese player since Hall of Famer Li Na was winning major titles a decade ago.

But after an 8-4 start to 2023, which included a SF in Abu Dhabi (w/ wins over Ostapenko and Dasha Kasatkina), and 4th Round run at Miami, the 20-year old largely settled into a position just out of the spotlight she clearly craved and enjoyed when it first came her way last season. After briefly spending time in the Top 20 in May, Zheng exited in the 2nd Round in her return to Paris (after a 2r at the AO), then went 0-3 in the grass season (WI 1r).

Finally, in Palermo, Zheng's work with new coach Wim Fissette was rewarded after Wimbledon with her maiden tour title on the clay in Palermo. She'd arrived in Italy at just 17-13 on the season, with only one QF result (Rome) since Abu Dhabi. That week in Palermo, she opened by double-bageling Sara Errani on Italian clay, then finished off things on the weekend by taking out another home favorite in the final, Jasmine Paolini in three sets.

The best moments for Qinwen in 2023 still seemed down the road, but she went just 3-3 on summer hard court leading into this Open, losing in straights to Madison Keys (Washington) and Liudmila Samsonova (Montreal) before being taken to three sets by Venus Williams and going the distance in another loss to Swiatek in Cincinnati.

Once in New York, Zheng had to play three-setters vs. Kaia Kanepi and Lucia Bronzetti, rallying from 4-2 back in the 3rd vs. the Italian in the 3rd Round. It didn't seem to be the set-up for a potentially career-changing slam run, but the heavy-hitting potential that first caught everyone's attention in '22 continued to linger.

For her part, Zheng's Round of 16 opponent, #5-seed Ons Jabeur has been rolling the dice for the better part of the past week, betting against all odds that she could continue to survive long enough to get on the other side of an illness that has turned her first three rounds at this Open into a series of operatic struggles, with each (so far) ending with her staggering off the stage with another tennis life to live two days later being her hard-won reward.

Wins over Camila Osorio, Linda Noskova and Marie Bouzkova were simultaneously life-affirming *and* an act of living on what was likely "borrowed time." Was Zheng finally the one who'd put a stake through the heart of yet another chapter in her ongoing slam quest?

In the opening set, the "worst case scenario" for Jabeur seemed to play out, as she started off slowly and appeared to lack energy, while Zheng showed no early nerves. Down a BP in game 3, the Tunisian DF'd and fell behind 2-1. Zheng soon grabbed a double-break lead at 4-1. A spate of Zheng UE gave one break back, but it was only a temporary bump in the road for the Chinese woman, as Jabeur dropped serve for a third time in the set. Serving at 5-2, Zheng missed a series of first serves and slightly opened a door for Jabeur, but she soon closed it and served out the set at 6-2.

The 2nd quickly began to go the way of the 1st. Jabeur dropped serve in the blink of an eye to open. But, ever so slightly, the Tunisian began to recapture glimpses of her game. A volley into the corner made it love/40 in game 2, and she got the break back. But Zheng, even with less-than-ideal first serve numbers, continued to charge. She got the break back, then an easy hold to lead 4-2.

Serving at 5-2, though, she couldn't put the match away. But would her late blink be enough to allow Jabeur back in the set? After struggling to hold all day, Jabeur went up 40/15 in game 8. Zheng got the game to deuce, and Jabeur sprayed a backhand to give Zheng her first MP. Jabeur moved in behind her serve and saved it, then held on her second GP to close to 5-4.

After openly desiring to play on the sport's biggest stages, Zheng didn't blow her chance a second time. Serving for her maiden slam QF, she took a 30/love lead. A big serve put her at triple MP.

Of course, Jabeur wasn't about to leave without a *bit* more drama. She saved MP #2 with a second serve return, then Zheng fired her reply to a short ball long on MP #3. Finally, on MP #4, Jabeur's forehand error ended things, as Zheng won 6-2/6-4 to become the first woman from China to reach the final eight in New York since 2019 (Wang Qiang).



As another one bites the dust, Zheng moves into the latter stages of a major for the first time; while Jabeur exits stage left after a week of struggle and triumph.

Jabeur's slam quest will now head into 2024, having produced another thrilling background chapter in a story desperately in search of a happy ending.

But the show must go on, and now Zheng steps into the spotlight that has seemed soon destined for her since she broke away from the pack last year. Does the Queen have enough to declare "I am the champion?"




=DAY 8 NOTES=
...I can remember when Labor Day at the U.S. Open seemed to percolate with excitement. But in recent years it's played out like a lazy, late summer day where a nice place in the shade was desired far more than a place in front of a screen watching tennis.

Today was often one of *those* days.

...briefly, there was a bit of commotion in the opening 4th Rounder, as unseeded '22 NCAA champ Peyton Stearns ran out to an early 4-1 lead against #9-seeded Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova. The Czech, playing through a sore shoulder, pushed the set to a TB, but the former Texas Longhorn star claimed it 7-3. Could an upset be brewing? Well, no.

As Vondrousova cleaned up her game, and Stearns never really advanced past the acquiantance stage with ther own serve, the Czech pulled away. She dropped just five games in the final two sets. Up a double-break at 3-0 in the 3rd, Vondrousova saw Stearns get back in the set with a game 4 break, but the momentum shift was short-lived as she was was unable to hold her own serve a game later. After having 25 UE in the 1st (17) and 2nd (8) sets, Vondrousova had just four in the 3rd.

She won 6-7(3)/6-3/6-2, reaching her first QF in New York and third overall (but second straight in slam play this year). Vondrousova finds herself at #6 in the live rankings.



Whatever drama was had in the Vondrousova/Stearns match, there was little to none of it when #3 Jessie Pegula faced off with #17 Madison Keys. Keys made short work of her fellow Bannerette, winning 6-1/6-3 in just over an hour, outpacing her 21-6 in winners and facing just one BP all day. The first 4th Round match had started an hour earlier, but both matches finished around the same time.



Like Vondrousova, Keys has reached the final eight in back-to-back majors. It's her tenth career slam QF overall, but surprisingly just her third in New York. It's her first at the Open since her back-to-back RU/SF finishes in 2017-18.

Pegula is still alive in the WD (w/ Coco Gauff) and MX (w/ Austin Krajicek) draws.

...in doubles play, Vondrousova withdrew from the event. She'd been partnering Barbora Strycova, so the Czech's WD career ends with something less than a whimper. However, she *is* stil alive in the MX quarterfinals with Santiago Gonzalez.



...in one of the late junior 1st Round matches yesterday, #8-seeded Bannerette Iva Jovic fell to Aya El Aouni of Morocco, 7-6(5)/3-6/6-4.



...in the night session on Ashe, Aryna Sabalenka arrived for an unofficial test run of her "new wheels" as the would-be women's #1 (after the Open, see below) against #13 Dasha Kasatkina. The Belarusian led the head-to-head 4-2, winning four of five back to 2020 (including a 3 & 3 victory last month in Cincinnati).

Playing with house money at this event now, with none of the #1 ranking pressure that accompanied her exits in Paris and London, Sabalenka ran off Kasatkina like a rat in a subway car, winning by the tune of 6-1/6-3, the biggest blowout win in the seven-match series between the two. She dropped serve three times, and failed to serve out the match at 5-2 in the 2nd, but there was little doubt about the end result on the night.



Sabalenka is the only player to reach the QF at all four slams (W-SF-SF) this year (no one else reached more than two) and has done so at five straight majors (all SF+) and three years in a row (SF-SF) in New York.






*WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#20 Alona Ostapenko/LAT vs. #6 Coco Gauff/USA
#30 Sorana Cirstea/ROU vs. #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE
#9 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE vs. #17 Madison Keys/USA
#23 Zheng Qinwen/CHN vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF*
#16 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL ) vs. #6 Fernandez/Townsend (CAN/USA)
#3 Gauff/Pegula (USA/USA) vs. #8 Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
#12 Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) vs. Azarenka/Haddad Maia (BLR/BRA)
Linette/Pera (POL/USA) vs. (PR) Brady/Stefani (USA/BRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES QF*
#1 Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. #5 Perez/Rojer (AUS/NED)
Townsend/Shelton (USA/USA) def. #7 Schuurs/Nys (NED/MON)
Strycova/S.Gonzalez (CZE/MEX) vs. Shibahara/Pavic (JPN/CRO)
Danilina/Heliovaara (KAZ/FIN) def. Xu Yifan/Vliegen (CHN/BEL)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S 1st ROUND*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Pauline Deroulede/FRA
Lucy Shuker/GBR vs. Manami Tanaka/JPN
#4 Momoko Ohtani/JPN vs. Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN
Kgothatso Montjane/RSA vs. Maria Florencia Moreno/ARG
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. Lizzy de Greef/NED
Shiori Funamizu/JPN vs. #3 Jiske Griffioen/NED
Angelica Bernal/COL vs. Katharina Kruger/GER
Dane Mathewson/USA vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN








...ABOUT LAST NIGHT... ON DAY 8:




And, thus, Latvian Thunder is reborn...




Alona Ostapenko seemed confident heading into her Round of 16 match last night with #1 Iga Swiatek. Of course, the Latvian *always* gives off that vibe, as she knows that if she hits her shots there are very few opponents who can keep up with her. Her 3-0 mark vs. the Pole didn't hurt, either, and it was surely a stat that Swiatek herself knew going in, taking away the (sometimes decisive, and crippling) pre-match edge in confidence that she so often enjoys (it's not Serena-esque, but as close to it as you'll see on the tour in '23).

Coming into the night not only having played three straight three-setters in New York, but *seven* straight this summer, Ostapenko was never going to worry about falling behind and/or dropping the 1st set (which she did). Some Swiatek opponents almost accept their fate after such a thing. Not the Latvian. She knew that an aggressive game that robs the Pole of time to prepare for shots, and an opponent that doesn't back down and has the ability to out-hit her are all ingredients for a win over a suddenly-uncomfortable Swiatek (she said it before the match, in fact). And, needless to say, Ostapenko checked *all* those boxes.

What happened in the final two sets, especially the 3rd, was a case of Ostapenko gradually taking the racket out of Swiatek's hands, rushing her replies, interrupting her rhythm and finishing off rallies in just a handful of shots (rarely more than three). Pushing the match into a 3rd set (her eighth straight), Ostapenko essentially dared Swiatek to take the match away from her. And she came up well, well short.

Ostapenko quickly grabbed a double-break lead, and led 5-0. Delivering a bagel set *to* Swiatek seemed possible, but the world #1 (for a few more minutes, anyway) managed to get on the board with a break in game 6 as Ostapenko served for the match. Though the familiar look of "panic" on the Pole's face when confronted with an unrelenting foe who doesn't genuflect before her never really occurred, it was clear that she had no answer for Ostapenko other than to hope that Ostapenko starting missing shots in bunches. Which *can* happen, of course, so even as Ostapenko was very nearly *home* one couldn't immediately *expect* that the match was over. With Alona, you never really know, you know?

But Ostapenko finished off Swiatek with a love break, winning 3-6/6-3/6-1. She'd already crossed over around the net post to shake Iga's hand before the Pole had even walked half way back to the service box on her side of the court. This was Alona's moment, and she wasn't waiting for anyone. While many may have been surprised by the outcome, at least in the final set, Ostapenko seemed to have expected it all along.

But that's why Latvian Thunder can shake one from their head to their toes. What she's *capable* of, if she doesn't muck it up all on her own along the way (see the 2017 RG), is astounding. Whether she can avoid doing just that for seven straight matches? Yeah, that's always the big question, isn't it?

Afterward, Ostapenko spoke the truth about the blueprint for beating Swiatek. We've seen it enough times in '23 to know.



If Ostapenko turns this U.S. Open into her own personal playground the rest of the week, New York might never recover.

Well, check that, NYC has show it can recover from anything... but it would never forget her, that is certain.


...MEANWHILE... NIGHT 7's REPERCUSSIONS ON DAY 8:





...THEY WERE TRYING WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF THIS ON ESPN LAST NIGHT, TOO (not Darren Cahill, who clearly enjoys and seems to be tickled by the whole idea of Alona)... ON DAY 8:



They were wondering whether Swiatek would complain to the chair about it. So apparently players have to stand flat-footed now until the serve is hit?

Just shut the hell up, people. JFC.

When it was clear that Swiatek was going to lose, Rennae Stubbs even tried to sell the notion that she "hadn't been playing well" this hard court summer. Umm, she came into the match 14-2 since Wimbledon, had won a title in Warsaw, defeated Muchova, Vondrousova and Zheng (her losses to Gauff and Pegula were three-setters), and she'd allowed nine games through three matches at this U.S. Open, then won the 1st set vs. Ostapenko at 6-3. When MJF called Stubbs on the absurdity (my word) of the notion, Stubbs tried to say that since Iga always wins titles having two SF losses (Montreal/Cincinnati, to the eventual champions) didn't make her feel confident.

Oh, poor baby. Please. Iga's a big girl... she knows she can't win every match. (Her name isn't Diede.)

Actually, I'm surprised she didn't complain about the squeaks. Iga is always looking to plant an excuse for her losses. I'd be no shock if she soon drops the "news" of some sort of phantom injury, mentions "fatigue" or complains about the event's "heavier" balls (though I guess she wasted that excuse last year when she won).

But, then again, she might wait until her *next* tournament to not be so obvious about it, since people have sort of caught onto the "I can explain..." act over the course of this season.


...(Snicker)... ON DAY 8:





...CAP'N RINALDI BREAK... ON DAY 8:





...THERE ARE A LOT OF TATTOS ON THE WTA TOUR... ON DAY 8:




But Vondrousova's may be the most random, seemingly unorganized lot -- less a "canvas" than something of a doodle pad, only on her arms -- of them all.




...UNTIL NEXT TIME ON DAY 8:
























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**WTA #1-RANKED PLAYERS (29), by year first reached #1**
1975 Chris Evert, USA
1976 Evonne Goolagong, AUS
1978 Martina Navratilova, USA
1980 Tracy Austin, USA
1987 Steffi Graf, FRG/GER
1991 Monica Seles, YUG
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
1998 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
2002 Venus Williams, USA
2002 Serena Williams, USA
2003 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2004 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2005 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Dinara Safina, RUS
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Ash Barty, AUS
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR

**U.S. OPEN DEFENDING CHAMP RESULTS - OPEN ERA**
1968 Virginia Wade (SF)
1969 Margaret Smith-Court (W)
1970 Margaret Smith-Court (DNP; SF in '72)
1971 Billie Jean King (W)
1972 Billie Jean King (3rd Rd.)
1973 Margaret Smith-Court (DNP; QF in '75)
1974 Billie Jean King (DNP; QF in '77)
1975 Chris Evert (W)
1976 Chris Evert (W)
1977 Chris Evert (W)
1978 Chris Evert (RU)
1979 Tracy Austin (SF)
1980 Chris Evert-Lloyd (SF)
1981 Tracy Austin (QF)
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (RU)
1983 Martina Navratilova (W)
1984 Martina Navratilova (RU)
1985 Hana Mandlikova (4th Rd.)
1986 Martina Navratilova (W)
1987 Martina Navratilova (QF)
1988 Steffi Graf (W)
1989 Steffi Graf (RU)
1990 Gabriela Sabatini (QF)
1991 Monica Seles (W)
1992 Monica Seles (DNP-stabbing; RU in '95)
1993 Steffi Graf (RU)
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (4th Rd.)
1995 Steffi Graf (W)
1996 Steffi Graf (DNP; 4th Rd. in '98)
1997 Martina Hingis (RU)
1998 Lindsay Davenport (SF)
1999 Serena Williams (QF)
2000 Venus Williams (W)
2001 Venus Williams (RU)
2002 Serena Williams (DNP; QF in '04)
2003 Justine Henin-Hardenne (4th Rd.)
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova (1st Rd.)
2005 Kim Clijsters (DNP; W in '09)
2006 Maria Sharapova (3rd Rd.)
2007 Justine Henin (DNP; retired)
2008 Serena Williams (SF)
2009 Kim Clijsters (W)
2010 Kim Clijsters (DNP; 2nd Rd. in '12)
2011 Samantha Stosur (QF)
2012 Serena Williams (W)
2013 Serena Williams (W)
2014 Serena Williams (SF)
2015 Flavia Pennetta (DNP; retired)
2016 Angelique Kerber (1st Rd.)
2017 Sloane Stephens (QF)
2018 Naomi Osaka (4th Rd.)
2019 Bianca Andreescu (DNP; 4th Rd. in '21)
2020 Naomi Osaka (3rd Rd.)
2021 Emma Raducanu (1st Rd.)
2022 Iga Swiatek (4th Rd.)

*SLAM QF - 2020-23*
7 - ARYNA SABALENKA (6-0) *
7 - Iga Swiatek (5-2)
6 - Ons Jabeur (3-3)
6 - Jessie Pegula (0-6)
4 - Ash Barty (3-1)
5 - COCO GAUFF (1-3) *
4 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA (2-1) *
4 - Elena Rybakina (2-2)
4 - Karolina Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Elina Svitolina (1-3)
3 - Simona Halep (2-1)
3 - MADISON KEYS (1-1) *
3 - Barbora Krejcikova (1-2)
3 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (1-2)
3 - Ajla Tomljanovic (0-3)

[most by nation]
25 - USA (9-14)**
16 - CZE (6-8)**
9 - BLR (8-0)*
8 - POL (6-2)
7 - AUS (3-4)
6 - TUN (3-3)
5 - KAZ (2-3)
5 - RUS (2-3)

**"CAREER SLAM" FEATS IN 2020s**
=QF=
2021 WI - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (36th)
2022 AO - Kaia Kanepi, EST (53rd)
2023 RG - Ons Jabeur, TUN (24th)
2023 RG - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (21st)
2023 WI - Jessie Pegula, USA (19th)
2023 WI - Iga Swiatek, POL (18th)
2023 US - Karolina Muchova, CZE (19th)
2023 US - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (31st)

**FEWEST MD TO "CAREER QF SLAM" - active**
6 - Venus Williams - 1998 WI
16 - Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2006 RG
18 - Iga Swiatek - 2023 WI
19 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA - 2023 US
19 - Jessie Pegula - 2023 WI
21 - Aryna Sabalenka - 2023 RG
22 - Simona Halep - 2015 US
23 - Madison Keys - 2018 RG
24 - Ons Jabeur - 2023 RG
25 - Sloane Stephens - 2018 RG
28 - Victoria Azarenka - 2012 US
29 - Elina Svitolina - 2019 US
30 - Petra Kvitova - 2015 US
31 - ALONA OSTAPENKO - 2023 US
31 - Vera Zvonareva - 2010 US
33 - Angelique Kerber - 2016 AO
36 - Karolina Pliskova - 2021 WI
37 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2017 AO
53 - Kaia Kanepi - 2022 AO

*2023 FIRST-TIME SLAM QF*
AO - Magda Linette, POL (30th)
RG - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (12th)
US - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (8th)
[at US Open in 2020s]
2020 - Jennifer Brady, USA (13th)
2021 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (7th)
2021 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (2nd)
2022 - none
2023 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (8th)

**BACKSPIN 2023 DOWN PLAYER-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN (pre-AO): Garbine Muguruza, ESP
AO: Garbine Muguruza, ESP
FEB: Anett Kontaveit, EST
MAR: Belinda Bencic, SUI
1Q...KONTAVEIT
APR: Anett Kontaveit, EST
MAY: Jessie Pegula, USA
RG: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2Q Clay Court...KREJCIKOVA
JUN: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
WI: Tatjana Maria, GER
2Q Grass Court...MARIA
JUL: Bernarda Pera, USA
AUG (pre-U.S.): Caroline Garcia, FRA
[2023 Weekly DOWN Award Wins]
5 - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
4 - Ons Jabeur, TUN
4 - Jule Niemeier, GER
3 - Anett Kontaveit, EST
3 - Maria Sakkari, GRE
2 - Biana Andreescu, CAN
2 - Amanda Anisimova, USA
2 - Belinda Bencic, SUI
2 - Caroline Garcia, FRA
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2 - Krejcikova/Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2 - Karolina Muchova, CZE
2 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2 - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS

**BACKSPIN 2023 COACH-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN (pre-AO): Anton Dubrov (Sabalenka)
AO: Anton Dubrov (Sabalenka)
FEB: Dmitry Tursunov (Bencic)
MAR/APR: Stefano Vukov (Rybakina) & Thomas Johansson (Cirstea)
1Q...DUBROV
APR: Igor Andreev (Potapova)
MAY: Stefano Vukov (Rybakina)
RG: Kirsten Flipkens (Muchova)
2Q Clay Court...FLIPKENS
JUN: Evgeny Alexandrov/Petr Kralert (Alexandrova)
WI: Jiri Hrebec/Jan Hernych (Vondrousova)
2Q Grass Court...HREBEC/HERNYCH
JUL: Wim Fissette (Zheng Q.)
AUG (pre-U.S.): Brad Gilbert/Pera Riba (Gauff)

*2023 US FINAL 8*
[by career slam QF]
10 - Madison Keys
7 - Aryna Sabalenka
5 - Coco Gauff
5 - Karolina Muchova
5 - Alona Ostapenko
3 - Marketa Vondrousova
2 - Sorana Cirstea
1 - Zheng Qinwen
[by career US QF]
3 - Madison Keys
3 - Aryna Sabalenka
2 - Coco Gauff
1 - Sorana Cirstea
1 - Karolina Muchova
1 - Alona Ostapenko
1 - Marketa Vondrousova
1 - Zheng Qinwen
[w/ consecutive slam QF]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka
2 - Madison Keys
2 - Marketa Vondrousova
[w/ consecutive US QF]
3 - Aryna Sabalenka
2 - Coco Gauff
[2023 slam QF - unseeded]
AO - Magda Linette, POL
AO - Donna Vekic, CRO
RG - Karolina Muchova, CZE
RG - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (PR)
RG - Elina Svitolina, UKR (PR)
WI - Elina Svitolina, UKR (WC)
WI - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
[2023 1st-time GS QF]
AO - Magda Linette (30th MD)
RG - Beatriz Haddad Maia (12th)
US - Zheng Qinwen (8th)
[2023 multiple slam QF]
4 - Aryna Sabalenka (AO/RG/WI/US)
2 - Coco Gauff (RG/US)
2 - Ons Jabeur (RG/WI)
2 - Madison Keys (WI/US)
2 - Karolina Muchova (RG/US)
2 - Alona Ostapenko (AO/US)
2 - Jessie Pegula (AO/WI)
2 - Elena Rybakina (AO/WI)
2 - Elina Svitolina (RG/WI)
2 - Iga Swiatek (RG/WI)
2 - Marketa Vondrousova (WI/US)
[2023 slam QF - by nation]
6...USA (1/1/2/2) - Gauff,Keys
5...BLR (2/1/1/1) - Sabalenka
5...CZE (1/1/1/2) - Muchova,Vondrousova
3...POL (1/1/1/0)
2...KAZ (1/0/1/0)
2...LAT (1/0/0/1) - Ostapenko
2...TUN (0/1/1/0)
2...UKR (0/1/1/0)
1...BRA (0/1/0/0)
1...CHN (0/0/0/1) - Zheng Q.
1...CRO (1/0/0/0)
1...ROU (0/0/0/1) - Cirstea
1...RUS (0/1/0/0)
[WTA career slam QF - active]
39...Venus Williams, USA
18...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
16...Simona Halep, ROU
16...Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
13...Petra Kvitova, CZE
11...Angelique Kerber, GER
11...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
10...Madison Keys, USA
10...Elina Svitolina, UKR
10...Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
8...Garbine Muguruza, ESP
8...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
7...Sara Errani, ITA
7...Kaia Kanepi, EST
7...Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
7...Sloane Stephens, USA
7...Iga Swiatek, POL
6...Ons Jabeur, TUN
6...Jessie Pegula, USA
6...Vera Zvonareva, RUS
5...Coco Gauff, USA
5...Karolina Muchova, CZE
5...Alona Ostapenko, LAT
5...Sabine Lisicki, GER
[WTA slam QF & W/L in 2020s - 15 events]
7 - Sabalenka (6-0) *
7 - Swiatek (5-2)
6 - Jabeur (3-3)
6 - Pegula (0-6)
5 - Gauff (1-3) *
4 - Barty (3-1)
4 - Muchova (2-1) *
4 - Rybakina (2-2)
4 - Ka.Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Svitolina (1-3)
3 - Halep (2-1)
3 - Keys (1-1) *
3 - Krejcikova (1-2)
3 - Pavlyuchenkova (1-2)
3 - Tomljanovic (0-3)
2 - Azarenka (2-0)
2 - Brady (2-0)
2 - Collins (1-1)
2 - Fernandez (1-1)
2 - Kenin (2-0)
2 - Kvitova (1-1)
2 - Osaka (2-0)
2 - Ostapenko (0-1) *
2 - Sakkari (2-0)
2 - Trevisan (1-1)
2 - S.Williams (2-0)
2 - Vondrousova (1-0) *
1 - Anisimova (0-1)
1 - Badosa (0-1)
1 - Bencic (0-1)
1 - Bouzkova (0-1)
1 - Cirstea (0-0) *
1 - Cornet (0-1)
1 - Garcia (1-0)
1 - Golubic (0-1)
1 - Haddad Maia (1-0)
1 - Hsieh (0-1)
1 - Kanepi (0-1)
1 - Kasatkina (1-0)
1 - Kerber (1-0)
1 - Kontaveit (0-1)
1 - V.Kudermetova (0-1)
1 - Linette (1-0)
1 - Maria (1-0)
1 - Mertens (0-1)
1 - Muguruza (1-0)
1 - Niemeier (0-1)
1 - Pironkova (0-1)
1 - Podoroska (1-0)
1 - Putintseva (0-1)
1 - Raducanu (1-0)
1 - Rogers (0-1)
1 - Siegemund (0-1)
1 - Stephens (0-1)
1 - Vekic (0-1)
1 - Zheng Qinwen (0-0) *
1 - Zidansek (1-0)
[WTA slam QF by nation in 2020s - 15 slams/120]
25 - USA (2)
16 - CZE (2)
9 - BLR (1)
8 - POL
7 - AUS
6 - TUN
5 - KAZ
5 - RUS
4 - GER
4 - ROU (1)
4 - UKR
2 - CAN
2 - ESP
2 - EST
2 - FRA
2 - GRE
2 - ITA
2 - JPN
2 - LAT (1)
2 - SUI
1 - ARG,BEL,BRA,BUL,CHN(1),CRO,GBR,SLO,TPE
[WTA slam QF W/L by nation in 2020s]
25 - USA (9-14)**
16 - CZE (6-8)**
9 - BLR (8-0)*
8 - POL (6-2)
7 - AUS (3-4)
6 - TUN (3-3)
5 - RUS (2-3)
5 - KAZ (2-3)
4 - GER (2-2)
4 - ROU (2-1)*
4 - UKR (1-3)
2 - CAN (1-1)
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - EST (0-2)
2 - FRA (1-1)
2 - GRE (2-0)
2 - ITA (1-1)
2 - LAT (0-1)*
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - SUI (0-2)
1 - ARG (1-0)
1 - BRA (1-0)
1 - BEL (0-1)
1 - BUL (0-1)
1 - CHN (0-0)*
1 - CRO (0-1)
1 - GBR (1-0)
1 - SLO (1-0)
1 - TPE (0-1)






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TOP QUALIFIER: #15 Wang Yafan/CHN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #6 Coco Gauff/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. #2 Diana Shnaider/RUS 6-7(5)/7-5/6-3 - down 7-6/5-3, saved 7 MP in 2nd set (trailed 5-4, 40/love)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #32 Elise Mertens/BEL def. Mirjam Bjorklund/SWE 3-6/6-3/7-6(10-3) - down 3 MP at 4-5, love/40 in 3rd, won 4 con. pts to hold; wins TB 10-3
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE (def. WC Hunter)
FIRST SEED OUT: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (1r- lost to Masarova/ESP)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Eva Lys/GER, Lily Miyazaki/GBR
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Jennifer Brady/USA (3rd Rd.); Dasha Saville/AUS (2nd Rd.), Patricia Maria Tig/ROU (2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (2nd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: China
NATION OF POOR SOULS: France (1-6 in 1st; 9 of FRA Top 10 out Q/1r)
CRASH & BURN: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (3 consecutive slam 1st Rd. losses)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: #32 Elise Mertens/BEL (5 MP saved 1r/2r; 4-5, love/40 in 3rd vs. Bjorklund/SWE 1r; 2 MP 2nd set TB vs. Collins/USA 2r)
IT ("??"): Nominee: Zheng Q.
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Kaja Juvan/SLO, Greet Minnen/BEL (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN (4r)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In QF: Gauff, Keys
COMEBACK: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Cirstea, Strycova
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Peyton Stearns/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominees: "Project Coco," "Latvian Thunder Reborn," "Jabeurwocky"
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominees: Gauff, Ostapenko
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x







All for Day 8. More tomorrow.
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