NEW YORK: Second seed
Daniil Medvedev
resumes his bid for his first
Grand Slam
title against Britain's
Dan Evans
at the
U.S. Open
on Sunday, while
Aryna Sabalenka
faces her good friend and doubles partner
Elise Mertens
in the fourth round.
Russia's Medvedev, a losing finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2019, is yet to drop a set in New York so far and faces world number 27 Evans in the second match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the first career meeting between the two.
"I think it's tough to describe (Evans) with one word, but (he's) definitely very tricky," Medvedev said. "I would think (he's) very smart because he doesn't have one shot that's a weapon and yet he's been a top player for many years already."
Medvedev has barely broken a sweat in the opening rounds, racing into the last 16 with three consecutive straight sets wins, while Evans has had to battle hard, playing two four-setters and a gruelling five-setter against Australia's Alexei Popyrin in his last match.
"I think my game is in a good place," Evans said, adding that he was trying to keep a positive mindset.
"(Medvedev's) been playing some unbelievable
tennis
this year, but if I go on the court and think I've got no chance and there's no pressure on me... you're not ready for that.
"You've got to go in believing you can win."
Sabalenka, the women's second seed, is aiming to reach her first singles quarter-final in New York, but must first get past her good friend Mertens at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The Belarusian won the 2019 doubles title at Flushing Meadows with Mertens and the pair also won the doubles crown at this year's Australian Open before Sabalenka decided to focus more on her singles career.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova takes on twice Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza in the evening session on Arthur Ashe, while Germany's Angelique Kerber faces Naomi Osaka's third-round conqueror Leylah Fernandez on Louis Armstrong.
Romania's Simona Halep kicks things off on Arthur Ashe, taking on fifth seed Elina Svitolina, while Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz will look to extend his dream debut at Flushing Meadows into the quarter-finals when he faces qualifier Peter Gojowczyk of Germany.
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