Shapovalov Sets Sights On Maiden Slam QF

An opportunity awaits for the eight players remaining in the bottom half of the draw. For the first time since 2014 at the US Open a first-time Grand Slam finalist is guaranteed. 

Three years ago first-time finalists met in the championship as Marin Cilic defeated Kei Nishikori. In the fourth round of the bottom half of the draw, the highest-seeded players are No. 12 Pablo Carreno Busta, No. 16 Lucas Pouille, No. 17 Sam Querrey, No. 23 Mischa Zverev, No. 28 Kevin Anderson, and No. 29 Diego Schwartzman. 

Only Anderson (2015) and Pouille (last year) have reached the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows. UnseededPaolo Lorenzi and #NextGenATP qualifier Denis Shapovalov are also left.

In the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Shapovalov takes on Carreno Busta for the first time.  The 18-year-old Shapovalov is the youngest player to reach the fourth round at the US Open since Michael Chang (17) in 1989. He is trying to become the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andre Agassi in 1988 and youngest in a Grand Slam quarter-final since Chang at 1990 Roland Garros.

With Russian teenager Andrey Rublev in the fourth round in the top half of the draw, this is the first time two teenagers have progressed as far at the US Open since Juan Martin del Potro and Kei Nishikori in 2008. Shapovalov is the first qualifier to reach the last 16 in Flushing Meadows since Gilles Muller (quarter-final) in 2008. 

Carreno Busta, who is the first player to face four qualifiers in a row in a Grand Slam event, is trying to reach his second Grand Slam quarter-final. He was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in June. His previous-best US Open result was the third round in 2014 and last year.

In the evening session, Zverev and Querrey battle it out for the first time. Zverev survived two five-set matches before beating top American John Isner in the third round. The 30-year-old German is trying to reach his second Grand Slam quarter-final of the season (Australian Open).  

Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber are the first German duo to reach the fourth round at the US Open since Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer in 2004. Haas is the last German quarter-finalist in 2007. 

Querrey, who is the only player remaining in the bottom half of the draw to reach a Grand Slam semi-final (Wimbledon in July), is attempting to become the first American to advance to the US Open quarter-finals since Mardy Fish in 2012. Querrey is 15-3 since the beginning of Wimbledon and he’s in the fourth round at the US Open for the first time since 2010 (also 2008).

On Louis Armstrong, Lorenzi looks for his first win (0-3) against Anderson, who is the only player remaining yet to drop serve. The 31-year-old South African has held all 43 service games, saving 14 break points. 

The 35-year-old Italian is the oldest player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time. He is looking to become the first Italian to reach the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows. 

Corrado Barazzutti advanced to the semi-finals at Forest Hills on clay in 1977 (l. to Connors). Anderson is 1-9 lifetime in Grand Slam fourth round matches and two years ago he beat No. 3 Andy Murray in the fourth round in New York before losing to Stan Wawrinka in his first Slam quarter-final.

On Grandstand, Pouille and Schwartzman meet for the first time in the main draw. In their only other meeting, the Argentine won in a qualifying match in 2013 Bastad. 

Pouille is trying to reach the quarter-finals for the second straight year and third overall in a Grand Slam tournament (2016 Wimbledon). Schwartzman is coming off his second career Top 10 win (2-13) over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.

He is appearing in his first career Grand Slam fourth round match. With Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round in the top half, this is the first time since 2007 there are two Argentines in this round at the US Open. That year, Juan Ignacio Chela reached the QFs and Juan Monaco the fourth round.