Rafael Nadal's quest for a 19 Grand Slam title continues on Wednesday, when he takes on Argentina's Diego Schwartzman in the last quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.
The Spaniard made it through to the quarterfinals after beating 2014 U.S. Open winner Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the previous round, while Schwartzman overcame No. 6 Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2017.
Nadal won a third U.S. Open title in the same year and reached the semifinals again in 2018. The world No.2 has dropped just one set so far and with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both out of the tournament, the door is open for Nadal to close the gap with Federer in the all-time Grand Slam winners ranking.
The Spaniard has won 18 Grand Slam titles and could move within one of Federer's tally of 20, after the Swiss suffered a surprise defeat on Tuesday night against Grigor Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian had lost all of his seven previous meetings against Federer but pulled off a major upset winning 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2.
"Clearly in the end he was not at his best. I used every opportunity I had," the Bulgarian said in his press conference.
Having never lost to a player outside the world's top 50 at Flushing Meadows up until last year, Federer has now suffered the fate two years in a row.
"I feel low. I'm disappointed it is over because I feel as I though I was playing well," the 38-year-old was quoted as saying. "It is a missed opportunity. I thought if I could get through I'd have two days off after."
Meanwhile, Serena Williams kept her dream of a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title alive as he demolished China's Wang Qiang in just 44 minutes.
44 minutes of pure mastery.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2019
👀 how @serenawilliams made it past Wang.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/HwdutrFv8X
The 37-year-old won 6-1, 6-0 to notch up her 100th win at Flushing Meadows, just a single win behind Chris Evert's all-time US Open record of 101.
Williams will face No. 5 Elina Svitolina, who knocked out her sister Venus earlier in the tournament, looking to reach the U.S. Open final for the second successive year.
"When I play someone who is playing well I have to step up or go home and I'm not ready to go," Williams told reporters.
"I knew I needed to come out and play well. I'm feeling good, had a really tough year and I'm still here.
"Physically I'm feeling great and more importantly I'm having fun every time I come out here."
Svitolina beat Britain's Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-4, while in the other men's quarterfinal No.5 seed Daniil Medvedev beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 7-6 (7-6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Here's everything you need to know to keep up with the action on Wednesday.
Quarterfinals start time
The action begins at 12 p.m. at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, when No. 13 seed Belinda Bencic plays No. 23 Donna Vekic.
Rafael Nadal takes on Diego Schwartzman in the evening session's final match and won't be on court until the end of the match between No. 15 seed Bianca Andreescu and No. 25 seed Elise Mertens.
TV channel
The tournament is broadcast exclusively across ESPN channels, with coverage beginning at 12 p.m. and running until 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday on both ESPN and ESPN+.
Live stream
Fans can watch the action online via the WatchESPN app and on ESPN.com and via fuboTV.
Quarterfinals full schedule
Aside from Nadal's match, the other quarterfinal in the men's tournament sees No. 24 Marco Berrettini play No. 13 Gael Monfils. The Italian crushed Russia's Andrey Rublev in the round of 16 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), while Monfils strolled past Spain's Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
Berrettini had never reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament before, while Monfils made it to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows in 2016.
In the women's tournament, Belinda Bencic aims to reach a maiden Grand Slam semifinal when she plays No. 23 Donna Vekic.
The No. 13 seed knocked out world No. 1 and defending U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, while Vekic beat No. 26 seed Julia Gorges 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-3.
The other quarterfinal sees No. 15 seed Bianca Andreescu plays No. 25 seed Elise Mertens on Wednesday, after the duo dealt a blow to American hopes.
Andreescu beat Taylor Townsend 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, while Mertens cruised past Kristie Ahn 6-1, 6-1.
Odds
Rafael Nadal is odds-on favorite to win a fourth U.S. Open crown after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were knocked out. According to Oddschecker, the Spaniard is 9/25 to win the tournament, while Daniil Medvedev is at 6/1 and Grigor Dimitrov is a 17/2 outsider.
In the women's tournament, Serena Williams is a 22/25 favorite, followed by Elina Svitolina at 9/2 and Bianca Andreescu at 5/1.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
