Jannik Sinner over Taylor Fritz 

Is it truly possible that an American man can win the US Open? Maybe, as in 2003, Andy Roddick took it, and he played spectacularly, but he could not do it again after that. 

Perhaps  Fritz can snag it, yet he is an underdog because the Italian and No. 1 Sinner, who is on fire, and his strokes are massive.

The San Diegan Fritz has only won at the ATP 1000s, at the 2022 Indian Wells, but currently, he is playing so much better with some terrific shots. He can tally, side to side, and to mix it up, too, but he has to try to put it away whenever he gets a chance.  

Sinner has become much smarter on the court. Even though he might make some errors, he is able to retrieve the ball and refocus. His first serve is very strong and his backhand and forehand are forceful. These skills helped him win the 2024 Australian Open and, more recently, the Cincinnati tournament.

Fritz can also vary his first serve, placing it into the corners while adding spin or flattening it out near the lines.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing him,” said Fritz. “To be honest, I don’t think that I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation. … When I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win.”

Sinner has won a Slam once, at the 2024 Austrian Open, and recently, he won Cincinnati, a few weeks ago, so he is locked in.

They have played each other twice at Indian Wells, California, on the hard courts; once in 2021 and once in 2023. The American won at Indian Wells in March 2022 under the hot weather conditions. Since Roddick retired, after coming close to winning at Wimbledon and the US Open multiple times, he has won many big titles. However, the current American male players have not won any ATP 1000 titles except for Fritz. Maybe they are ready to achieve it someday.00 titles except for Fritz. Maybe they are ready to achieve it someday.

“I think it gives hope and shows that we’re knocking on the door of winning a Slam, and we have this generation, this group of guys where there’s four or five of us that are actually at this level,” Fritz said about Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, and Ben Shelton“ I mean, it shows that we’re all moving in the right direction. I think that whenever one of us does something, the others follow, and the others get belief from it. I think this is just the start for all of us.”

He will try to jump against Sinner, in the first set, and hopefully, to shut him down. However, Sinner is more composed and he believes he can hitch his heavy strokes. He might back up a little bit, but Sinner will rise very high. He will win it 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Aryna Sabalenka over Jessica Pegula 

Way back when Serena Williams won the 1999 US Open, she and Venus took off, all of them. But now, the American Jessica Pegula finally made it into the final, beating Karolina Muchova in the semis. She was on fire, finally.

Yet Aryna Sabalenka is also on a role, and in the semis, she took off in the tight second set, and she beat Emma Navarro.

Now, both of them want to win on an amazing day.

Pegula has had a terrific five weeks, winning Toronto, reaching the final in Cincinnati, and racing at the US Open. She is much better from side to side. She can smash her forehand, backhand, crosscourt, and down the line. She is patient, and she can mix it up, too.

The Belarussian Sabalenka can also run down and then nail it very deep. She is one of the biggest hitters out there, and at the 2023 and 2024 Australian, she won it, and now she wasn’t nervous at all. She has matured a lot and can try to be more patient. A few years ago, she would get frustrated, and then she would be ticked off. Yet, not anymore, so she wants to attack early and often.

The American Pegula is also pretty smart on the court. However, Sabalenka beat her 6-3, 7-5 in Cincinnati when she outhit her. She has a 5-2 head-to-head against Pegula but could change her direction. It should be close, both of them.

“We had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches,” Sabalenka said. “[Pegula’s] playing incredible tennis. Feels like she’s back on track. Cannot wait to play against her.”

Yes, she will, but what about the 30-year-old Pegula, who took her a long time to play more consistently, week after week? She can certainly go for it when the fans cheer her and hope she can rise so high. 

“So to be able to overcome all those challenges and say that I get a chance at the title Saturday is what we play for as players, let alone being able to do that in my home country here, in my home Slam. It’s perfect, really,” Pegula said.

However, Sabalenka also likes to pump it up after she hits a startling winner. In the third set, she will pound her feet and dominate her with her forehand on the lines. Sabalenka will take it 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Taylor Fritz over Frances Tiafoe 

It has been a very long time since the American men reached the final at the US Open. Andy Roddick did, winning it in 2003, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero,  but after that, he couldn’t win it again. Either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe will reach the final for the first time, but which one will do it? Those to know each other well, their friends, and they met each other 10 years ago, and then, they became fast conversations. However, Fritz has beaten him six times, and he only won one time. Clearly, then, Fritz is the favorite. The question is, can Tiafoe attack him early? He does really like the rallies, but so does Fritz. The San Diegoan has improved a lot over the past 11 days, smashing his forehand and his backhand, and also, with his fine first serve. 

Tiafoe did not have a good year, but then, he became so efficient, and he decided to focus point after point. He is so quick and can go for it when he has an opportunity and try to crush the ball. 

They also practiced with each other a lot, so on Friday night, they would know where to go and, if they had to, to change it up.

Fritz is slightly more accurate on the court, but Tiafoe reached into the semis at Flushing Meadow two ago. He couldn’t get into the final as he lost against Carlos Alcaraz.

Yet this a new day. This is Fritz’s first Slam semifinal,  but he is itching to go. He will try to be creative and try to lop in the second serve.  Tiafoe wants to win it badly, but Fritz will take it, winning it 4-6, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. 

Jannik Sinner over Jack Draper

These two have played each other just one time, and Jack Draper beat Jannik Sinner 7-6, 7-6 in London/Queens Club three years ago on the grass, but now, in the US Open, it is on the hardcourts, faster, for sure. They are both young, and they still have to learn a bit more, but the Italian Sinner is ranked No.1, so clearly, he is darn good with his heavy forehand and backhand. He is on a roll, beating almost everyone, but that doesn’t mean that the left, Draper, is gaining ground, and he could shock him.  

Sinner put down Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarters with some fantastic strokes. He can become ticked off when he cannot think inside the box, but currently, he can re-do it or breathe. He won Cincinnati a few weeks ago, so he is locked in.

However, with his cool spin, Draper can also dance when his forehand stays in, and he can jump it on his massive shots. This year, he was up and down, week after week, yet the Britain pays attention.

In Montreal, they played doubles, and now they are good friends.

“Obviously lefty, it’s also tough to see, as there are fewer lefties than righties. You know, his ball striking was always very, very good,”  said Sinner.

“It was nice to share the court with him in doubles in Montreal. We got to know each other even more. We text each other when we have good or bad times, trying to keep ourselves up. It’s a great friendship…It’s going to be a tough match. He hasn’t lost one set yet. He’s playing great. He’s serving great. I saw also the match today, he’s hitting very, very strong. So it’s going to be a tough match.” 

Sinner has won a Slam once, at the 2024 Austrian Open, but Draper has yet to go to the final. He will become nervous, but  Sinner won’t, and he will win it in four tough sets.

Karolina Muchova over Beatriz Haddad Maia 

The Czech has beaten Haddad Maia all three times, two of them in the hardcourts last year in Cincinnati. Muchova is on the role, once again, and now, her body is 100 percent. She can hit all directions, and also, to spin it, and flat, too. Haddad Maia has had a terrific event, and she is very enthusiastic. She can try to mash the ball. Yes, there are times when she will try to engage the rallies, for a long time, but in the US Open, she has to go for it, whenever she has a real chance. 

Muchova has gone very deep in the Slams, but the Brazilian hasn’t done that much. Therefore, Muchova will take it in two tough sets.

Alex de Minaur over Jack Draper

The Aussie de Minaur is rocking and rolling, and while a few weeks ago, he hurt his body and almost decided not to play. Yet he recovered, so now, he is ready to dance, on the court. He is very consistent, with his forehand and his backhand, and he can also make an attempt to find the lines.

The 22-year-old Draper is also having a terrific event, winning four straight matches, and he must be thinking that he can go even further. He did win Stuttgart, and the Britain is stronger all the time.

 However, de Minaur studies where he can go and change it when he has to. He has lost some critical marches, but he is getting much smarter. De Minaur won’t get nervous, so he will win it in four interesting sets.

Iga Swiatek over Jessica Pegula 

Is it possible that the American will finally reach the semis at the Grand Slams? Pegula is inching for it, but how can she chop down the No. 1 Swiatek, who has won five Slams? That won’t be easy, as the Polish person can lock it in, and then she can swing it all over the place. She is very powerful, and she can shatter her forehand and her backhand. Yes, this season, she has been very good, but she has lost some key matches.  

She has beaten Pegula six times, but she has lost three matches. The 30-year-old Pegular has refined a lot during the summer, and not only is she so normal, but her backhand, and at the net, is very stout. 

Pegula has been trying to win at a Slam, and at all four, as she has been in the quarters, yet she has not been into the semis. If it time to do it? She must be thinking about whether she can trip her up, but Swiatek knows that when it is in the third set, she can buckle down. Once again, Swiatek will throw in some wonderful winners, and she will take it 6-4 in the third set.

Daniil Medvedev over Jannik Sinner 

Is this a real toss-up? Maybe, as they have played each other 12 times, and the Russian has won seven times, while the Italian took it five times. Yes, Medvedev is a slight favorite, but he is 28 years old, while Sinner is 23 years old. His forehand and his backhand can be stunning, and his first serve is spot, on. Medvedev also loves to rally and can sit in the backcourt for hours anytime he wants to. They played each other four years ago, so they know each other’s game. This year, Sinner beat Medvedev in the final at the Aussie Open 6-3 in the fifth, and then at Wimbledon,  Medvedev took him down 6-3 in another five-setter, again, in the quarters.  Medvedev can look odd when he is playing poorly, but over the past nine days in New York, he is playing unbelievably. Because of that, he will edge Sinner in four sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. 

Iga Swiatek over Liudmila Samsonova

Is it possible that the Russian Samsonova will play fantastically and stun over No. 1 Swiatek? Probably not, but Samsonova can sit inside the box and rally forever. She won the Netherlands this year, but other than that, she did not go deep enough. Samsonova is somewhat consistent, but she can also miss the ball too much.

Swiatek has lost here and there, but she also wins a huge amount. She is so strong, and she can also attach all the time. She knows when to put it away and rarely backs off. Swiatek is feeling very good and will win it in two easy sets.

Alex de Minaur over Jordan Thompson

The Aussies haven’t played each other since 2022, on the hardcourts in Miami, and de Minaur won it in two sets. He has beaten him four times, and he only lost one, so clearly, de Minaur is a better player. Veteran Thompson has won some fine matches, especially on the hardcourts, but he has yet to be ranked in the top 25. Maybe he will, or maybe not.  

De Minaur had a solid season in 2024, and he beat some very good people, chopping them down. He is motivated and likes to rally until he can try to explode and put it away. He will do it when de Minaur takes it in four long sets.

Jannik Sinner over Tommy Paul

This is somewhat fascinating, as the No. 1 Sinner has beaten him twice, on the clay and the hardcourts, and Paul beat him on the grass. While they haven’t played each other so much, knowing which way to go was very important. They both can rally in the back and hit it down the line or crosscourt. They can also mix it up and try to fool them. Their first serves are quite good, but the Italians can throw it with big aces. The American Paul has improved so much over the past two years, but so has Sinner, who won the 2024 Aussie Open. Plus, he just won Cincinnati. Sinner is almost on the top to win another gigantic tournament. However, this week, he still has a long way to take it. Regardless, Sinner will win it in five wild sets.

Jessica Pegula over Diana Shnaider 

The American is still going, not pushing around, but trying to be more aggressive and nail it in the lines. Over the past six weeks, Pegula began to find out where to go and bring it back. She truly knows where she can drive it, very deep. Pegula has never won a Grand Slam yet, but she has come into the quarterfinals to beat most people. However, that doesn’t mean she can fold during the critical matches. 

Shnaider is super young, only 20 years old, so clearly, she is rising fast. She likes to try to bash the ball, especially with her terrific backhand, as she is also darn fast. Yes, the Russian has won several matches, winning three titles in 2024, taking Thailand, France, and Germany. Not the biggest ones, but important ones.  It will take her a couple of years to understand what she does, but she is currently ranked No. 20, so she is already phenomenal. However, they did play each other, and Pegula beat  Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 in the semis in Toronto on the hardcourts. Pegula will do it again; this time, she will grab it in three terrific sets.

Caroline Wozniacki over Jessika Ponchet

The Frenchwoman Ponchet has had a terrific week, qualifying, and beating a couple solid players. But Ponchet hasn’t gone very deep at the majors, but she is trying. The former No. 1 Wozniacki is always trying to gain her ground, and to be more aggressive, especially with her so-so forehand. Yes, she is older, but she  likes to play, and she can re-act, over and over again. She did stop for a while back in 2022, to have a baby, and now the 34-year-old is ready to beat a lot of different people. Maybe she will, but this year, she has been so-so. However, when if she can lock in, then she can grind it down. Wozniacki will win it two, simple sets. 

Iga Swiatek over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Will the No. 1 continue to rise up even further? Swiatek just destroyed one of her players, and then she said that it is back on, playing with her her hard strokes. She can bash the ball, and put it away, side to side.

However, Pavlyuchenkova can also be more authoritative. She does like to attack somewhat early, and try to hit it close in the corners. Yet while the Russian has gone deep before at the Slams, but she will trip it up. She could upset Swiatek, but currently, she will out-race her, and she will win it 6-3, 6-4.    

Daniil Medvedev over Flavio Cobolli

Both Novak Djokovic and  Carlos Alcaraz are out, which is a shocker, but they are done, so now maybe the Russian can win it again. Medvedev  is a huge, consistent hitter, but he doesn’t come into the net, much, and while he has won a lot of matches, he also folds. In reality, he does try all the time, but he does get frustrated, and then he slaps the ball way out.

However he is the favorite, but they have never played each other, so it is a new match. The Italian, Cobolli, is clearly rising, and while he is still learning, he beat a number of some solid players. The No. 31 reached into the final in Washington, which was terrific, as he pushed himself when he had on the hardcourt. His forehand and his backhand are solid, but he still needs to improve his serve and his return. Medvedev can read with there strokes, and see what he should to. On Saturday, Medvedev will grab it in four, entertaining, sets.

Alex de Minaur over Daniel Evans

The Aussie de Minaur  is playing so wonderful, even when he is missing some simple shots. He will just play on, knowing that very soon, his forehand and his backhand will climb up again. Over the past two years, he improved a lot, with his return and also, at the net.

Evans has also been super solid, week after week. Yes, he can lose, but he plays all the time, so he can focus, wherever he  feels good. He does like to rally, and also, he can leap on the lines. The No. 10 de Minaur wants to go all the way at the Slams, and maybe he will, but first he has to chop down all comers. He will on Saturday, beating Evans in a marathon, 7-5 in the fifth.