Preview / Schedule US Open 2024 Day Five featuring Tiafoe-Shelton, Djokovic, Sabalenka and Svitolina-Gauff

The 5th day of the US Open will take place on Friday, August 30th, and it promises to be a day filled with high-stakes matches featuring some of the biggest names in tennis with the schedule set. Our preview is looking ahead to Day Five.

Fans will be thrilled to watch stars like Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka take the court as the tournament progresses. As we move deeper into the event, the matches become increasingly compelling because the top players are still in the draw. While some have been eliminated, the key contenders remain, setting the stage for a day of intense competition.

Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court of the US Open, is reserved for the best players in the world, and Friday’s lineup does not disappoint. Play begins at noon, in keeping with tradition, and the first match features the defending champion, Coco Gauff.

The American prodigy faces Elina Svitolina in what promises to be a fascinating matchup. Svitolina has been playing exceptional tennis recently, and some, including former tennis star Andy Roddick, have even predicted that she might upset Gauff in the third round. Roddick, who discussed his predictions on his "Served" podcast, noted that Svitolina's current form is superior to Gauff's, making this match one to watch closely.

Gauff's performances so far in the tournament have been less than convincing, which could give Svitolina an edge. However, Gauff is known for rising to the occasion, especially on the big stage, so this match could go either way. It’s a clash between two talented players with contrasting styles, and Svitolina will certainly not be without chances.

Following the Gauff-Svitolina showdown, the crowd will be treated to another exciting match between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. This match is a rematch of last year's encounter, which Shelton won in four sets. Tiafoe has been in good form lately and will be eager to avenge last year's disappointing loss.

Shelton, on the other hand, has matured significantly as a player and is taking his game more seriously this year. The American has been racking up wins consistently, and given that he's beaten Tiafoe in both of their matches this year, he’ll be confident going into this encounter. The crowd is sure to be enthralled by this battle between two of the most exciting young players on the tour.

The night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium will feature two more matches, beginning with Novak Djokovic. This will be Djokovic’s third consecutive night match, although he has expressed his dislike for playing late at night.

After his first match, he mentioned that he doesn’t enjoy playing so late, but the organisers did him a favour this time by scheduling his match as the first of the night session. Djokovic did add, however, that he enjoys playing the first match of the night session because it’s at a more reasonable hour. His first match, which finished close to midnight, was a late-night marathon that Djokovic would prefer to avoid.

The final match of the day on Arthur Ashe will see Aryna Sabalenka take on Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sabalenka, who was the runner-up last year after losing to Gauff in the final, comes into this year’s tournament with added determination. She is widely considered the favourite to win the title, and her performance so far has done little to challenge that view. Sabalenka’s powerful game makes her a formidable opponent, and she will be heavily favoured to win against Alexandrova. The match is likely to showcase some hard-hitting rallies, with Sabalenka aiming to impose her dominance early on.

The second-largest court at the US Open, Louis Armstrong Stadium, will feature a packed schedule of five matches on Friday, starting at 11 a.m. local time, an hour earlier than the matches on Arthur Ashe. The day kicks off with a match between Paula Badosa and Elena Ruse. Badosa, who has rediscovered her best form, was initially expected to face Barbora Krejcikova, but Ruse pulled off an upset to set up this clash.

Badosa will likely be pleased with this matchup, as Ruse is a more unpredictable player who tends to make many unforced errors from the baseline. Badosa, with her solid baseline game, should be favoured to keep this match relatively straightforward, but surprises are always possible.

The next match on Louis Armstrong will see another seeded player, Emma Navarro, take on Marta Kostyuk. Navarro, who has been in sensational form this year, has made a name for herself with strong performances across all surfaces. She entered the US Open in good form and has continued to impress this week. While Kostyuk is a capable player, Navarro will have the advantage of playing at home, and her current form suggests she should be able to secure another victory.

The third match on this court will feature another American, Taylor Fritz, who faces Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine has been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, proving that he is more than just a clay-court specialist. Cerundolo is edging closer to breaking into the Top 50, but his run in New York is likely to end here, as Fritz has been in excellent form. Nonetheless, Cerundolo has the potential to make this match interesting, and it could be a competitive encounter.

The night session on Louis Armstrong Stadium will feature two matches, starting with Madison Keys taking on Elise Mertens. Mertens has had a quietly consistent year, performing well across the board, and she will be a tough opponent for Keys, who has been in outstanding form at this year’s US Open. Keys has traditionally performed well at her home Grand Slam, but this year, she has been even more impressive. This matchup promises to be a high-quality affair between two players capable of producing great tennis.

The final match on Louis Armstrong will see Alexander Zverev face Tomas Etcheverry. This matchup is particularly interesting because it will be played at night, in slightly slower conditions, which could benefit the Argentine. While Etcheverry is unlikely to win the match, he has the talent to push Zverev and make it a more competitive encounter than the seedings might suggest. The crowd will be eager to see if Etcheverry can challenge Zverev, and the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

The Grandstand, the third-largest court at the US Open, will also host some thrilling matches on Friday. The day’s action will begin with a match between Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and Jule Niemeier. This is an intriguing matchup because Zheng has shown some vulnerability in her recent performances, while Niemeier is known for her powerful hitting. An upset is not out of the question here, as both players can be streaky, and it will be interesting to see who can maintain their form throughout the match.

Following that, Victoria Azarenka will take on Yafan Wang in what could be another compelling match. Azarenka, a former World No. 1, has been dealing with physical issues in her previous matches but has managed to stay in the tournament. Wang, on the other hand, has been playing well, and this could be a closely contested match depending on Azarenka’s physical condition.

The third match on Grandstand will feature a battle between Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka. Their head-to-head record is evenly split, with both players winning two matches each. This matchup comes at a time when both players have struggled with consistency, which could lead to an unpredictable and exciting match. The Grandstand crowd will be in for a treat if both players bring their best tennis.

The final match of the day on Grandstand will see Casper Ruud take on Jerry Shang. This matchup is fascinating on paper, as Ruud has finally found some form after a challenging year. The Norwegian reached the final in New York prevously and seems to be hitting his stride at the right time. Shang, a rising star, will have his work cut out for him, but if he can play his best tennis, he could make this match more competitive than expected.

In addition to these matches, there are several other intriguing encounters scheduled for Friday. Donna Vekic will face Peyton Stearns in what should be a closely fought battle, while Brandon Nakashima will take on Lorenzo Musetti in another match worth keeping an eye on. Both matches have the potential to deliver some high-quality tennis, adding to the excitement of Day 5 at the US Open.

As the US Open enters its middle stages the level of competition intensifies. Friday’s matches offer a perfect mix of star power, intriguing matchups, and potential upsets. Whether it’s on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, or Grandstand, tennis fans are in for a thrilling day of action as the tournament’s biggest names look to take another step closer to the title.

Elina Svitolina (UKR) (27) v Coco Gauff (USA) (3)

Ben Shelton (USA) (13) v Frances Tiafoe (USA) (20)

Alexei Popyrin (AUS) (28) v Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2)

Ekaterina Alexandrova (29) v Aryna Sabalenka (2)

Qinwen Zheng (CHN) (7) v Jule Niemeier (GER)

Victoria Azarenka (20) v Yafan Wang (CHN)

Andrey Rublev (6) v Jiri Lehecka (CZE) (32)

Casper Ruud (NOR) (8) v Juncheng Shang (CHN)

Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) v Paula Badosa (ESP) (26)

Emma Navarro (USA) (13) v Marta Kostyuk (UKR) (19)

Francisco Comesana (ARG) v Taylor Fritz (USA) (12)

Madison Keys (USA) (14) v Elise Mertens (BEL) (33)

Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) v Alexander Zverev (GER) (4)

Donna Vekic (CRO) (24) v Peyton Stearns (USA)

Tallon Griekspoor (NED) v Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) (9)

Brandon Nakashima (USA) v Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) (18)