PREVIEW US Open ATP & WTA Day Eight: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula lead line-up

Day Eight of the 2025 US Open is set to continue on Sunday 31 August with Jessica Pegula, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz with the first Quarter-Finals to be set to begin the second week.

As well as that trio, Elena Rybakina will face Marketa Vondrousova in the night session on Arthur Ashe as the US Open continues with only eight singles ties on the Sunday. Our preview looks ahead to the main ties which also include Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz who will play elsewhere on Louis Armstrong instead of Arthur Ashe on Sunday.

In regards to the Day Session on Arthur Ashe, it is Jessica Pegula like Coco Gauff yesterday who opens proceedings with an American in the prime opener. Albeit perhaps done for a reason like Gauff and that is to get people in early before the big matches on paper of the night.

Pegula hasn't faced a blip yet but is always intriguing as she has not had a great few months despite reaching the final last year. But she has made light work of her campaign so far including Victoria Azarenka in the last round. Ann Li is a surprise name in the Last 16 but one that has a win over Pegula for albeit all the way back in 2018. That was at an ITF USA 24A tournament where Li won the semi-final.

Both have gone very different directions since then and met last at the French Open back in May where Pegula triumphed in the second round. Pegula though often has a blip in her as of late so whether she comes through this one unscathed remains to be seen. An interesting proposition for sure.

Carlos Alcaraz took down Luciano Darderi last round in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win. But it was far from easy at the start as he dropped serve for the first time and had to take a medical timeout. He said it was merely for precaution but he faces Arthur Rinderknech, a known spoiler who will take advantage if there is any frailty.

Alcaraz though has a 3-0 record against Rinderknech albeit mostly at Queen's where he has two wins. He also has beaten him at the US Open back in 2021 sealing it 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

So very much advantage Alcaraz but taking sets off him before Rinderknech won't make it easy for him to thrive amid the weight of the expectation that he will continue his run into the Quarter-Fnals.

Novak Djokovic was a real doubt during his match against Cameron Norrie whether he would be on the receiving end of a shock. He had a back issue and had to take a medical timeout and then lost the set. But as Norrie started to fade, Djokovic managed to get over the line.

Jan-Lennard Struff is an interesting complexion as the German has seen off Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe so far this week after coming through qualifying. He is very much on a free roll and at the age of 35, it is very much a veterans clash and one that has been edged before a lot by Djokovic who has a 7-0 Head-to-Head record. He won first all the way back in 2017 in Doha albeit they mostly played between 2020 and 2021 and haven't played since Djokovic has become more of a faded power.

Elena Rybakina follows on with a tie against Marketa Vondrousova in a battle of former Wimbledon champions. Rybakina is perhaps one of the main dark horses in this tournament given the way she thrashed Emma Raducanu - who herself has been in good form as of late.

She also saw off Aryna Sabalenka recently in Cincinnati so shows she has the sauce to see off the big names at the moment in the sport. Back with Stefano Vukov whether contentious or not, it is very much a partnership that has thrived in the past and can again. Next is Marketa Vondrousova who has been healthy for a little while which has been the main thing and she now gets to tussle with Rybakina with a 1-1 record in their Head-to-Head. Rybakina won their last meeting in 2023 in Rome.

But what about Louis Armstrong I hear you cry? Adrian Mannarino who slayed Ben Shelton will return in one of two surprise ties to begin the day on Louis Armstrong. The Frenchman who won for the toilet for the first time in his career now faces Jiri Lehecka. Then it is Taylor Townsend's turn.

Townsend made headlines earlier in the week for her interesting fracas with Jelena Ostapenko and the interesting aftermath which is still being debated now and still being apologised or doubled down on. She now faces Barbora Krejcikova who was always going to be an unseeded floater in the draw. Townsend last saw off Mirra Andreeva in a shock win.

Then it is the two big names in the Night Shift as Taylor Fritz faces off against Tomas Machac and Aryna Sabalenka takes on Cristina Bucsa. Fritz could force a tie with Novak Djokovic, a match-up he doesn't like so he will be hoping that Djokovic is dumped out. While Sabalenka as defending champion is presumed she will sweep aside Bucsa hence not being on Arthur Ashe. She has been superb so far and no doubt will continue that tonight.