PREVIEW US Open ATP & WTA Day Six: Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic with tough tests, Emma Raducanu faces Wimbledon champ

The US Open has reached the stage where the draw begins to sharpen and the pressure intensifies. The first week has already delivered its share of upsets, breakthroughs, and dominant performances, setting the stage for a second week that promises even more drama.

On Saturday in Flushing Meadows, the spotlight falls on a slate of matches that embody the excitement of Grand Slam tennis. Emma Raducanu faces a huge test against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, while Novak Djokovic meets Britain’s Cameron Norrie under the Ashe lights. World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz also headlines the action. With home hopes like Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz chasing second-week spots, Day Six of the US Open promises a showcase of star power, contrasting styles, and potential upsets.

World number 2 Carlos Alcaraz has taken to the New York hard courts with the authority of a former champion. The Spaniard has looked comfortable through his opening rounds, blending aggressive baseline play with a fearless willingness to move forward, as shown when defeating Italian Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. Against another Italian in Luciano Darderi, the 22-year-old Italian has quietly impressed to reach the third round, dropping only one set so far in his 6-0, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4 victory against Eliot Spizzirri.

Darderi thrives on heavy topspin and consistency, but this is newfound territory for him at a major, having only made a third round once at Wimbledon earlier this year. Alcaraz’s variety, from his drop shots to his lethal forehand, should be too much, yet the Italian will aim to slow the tempo and extend rallies. For Alcaraz, the goal will be straightforward: to keep matches short, conserve energy, and advance to the second week, where tougher tests loom.

After Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open finalist in the women’s draw, faces Victoria Azarenka, a former world number 1 and two-time Australian Open champion. Pegula has built her success on relentless consistency, and will be eager to replicate her North American hard court success from last year. However Azarenka is a seasoned campaigner who has rediscovered flashes of her former brilliance this season. With a career record that includes two US Open finals (2012, 2013), Azarenka knows how to thrive in New York’s electric atmosphere.

For the night session on Ashe, Novak Djokovic, chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, takes on Britain’s Cameron Norrie. On paper, Djokovic is the heavy favorite. His ability to reset points, return serve, and dictate tempo remains unmatched. Yet Norrie’s grinding style, left-handed spins, and willingness to rally could at least ask questions of the Serbian. The pair have met before, with Djokovic holding the upper hand in a 6-0 head to head, but Norrie will draw confidence from his deep runs in Masters events and his reputation as a tireless competitor to potentially tire the 38 year old out.

To wrap up Centre Court action, Americans will get to watch world number 1 doubles star Taylor Townsend who embodies the crowd’s love for bold, attacking tennis. The American enters buoyed by her recent drama against Jelena Ostapenko, where she battled through a tense match and emerged victorious. Riding that momentum, Townsend will be looking to dispatch another seeded opponent, but the Russian and current world number 4 may think otherwise.

For Emma Raducanu, memories of 2021, when she stunned the world to win the US Open as a qualifier, remain vivid. Now, she faces one of her toughest challenges as she wants to replicate that breakthrough, ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh's power game has already delivered her a Wimbledon crown and consistent Slam runs, along with strong North American hard-court results so far. Nevertheless, this match will be a barometer of where Raducanu stands in her journey back to the top, with a win guaranteed to send shockwaves and warnings through the rest of the draw.

Following the Brit, Armstrong will have a battle of youth and experience with Ben Shelton versus Adrian Mannarino. Shelton’s explosive lefty serve and youthful energy make him one of the US crowd’s favorites. Mannarino, however, is as unorthodox as they come, deploying spins and slices that can frustrate even the most powerful hitters. For Shelton, patience will be key, but with his ability to light up courts with big serves, and beating the Frenchman a few weeks ago in Toronto, he will enter confident of reaching the Round of 16.

Another marquee battle sees world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Sabalenka, the reigning US Open champion, enters in shaky form, despite still hitting opponents off the court with raw power. Fernandez, however, has history here: the 2021 finalist was the darling of New York three years ago with her fearless shot-making and energy and defeated Sabalenka on her way to that historic run.

Their contrasting styles promise fireworks. Sabalenka’s goal will be to dominate rallies early, while Fernandez will aim to redirect pace and feed off crowd momentum. This match has upset potential, but it will require Fernandez to produce her very best tennis.

The final match on Louis Armstrong sees American number 4 seed Taylor Fritz take on Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym. Fritz, one of the top-ranked Americans in the draw, will aim to assert his power game and maintain momentum into the second week, while Kym arrives with nothing to lose and the freedom to play aggressively. As a qualifier, the 21-year-old Swiss has already impressed with his resilience, but Fritz’s consistency and experience at the majors make him the clear favorite to close out the night session on Armstrong with a confident win.

On the Grandstand and other outside courts, Day Six also features a slate of intriguing matchups that deserve attention. Men’s seeds like Jiri Lehecka face off against Raphael Collignon, while Frances Tiafoe looks to continue his home run against qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff who took out Holger Rune. Women’s singles also deliver fireworks, with Marketa Vondrousova [7] taking on Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro [10] challenging 2021 Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova.

By the end of Saturday, the second week will be within sight. Some champions will advance with authority, while others could fall prey to challengers inspired by the energy of Flushing Meadows. Either way, Day Six is stacked with storylines, and fans around the world should buckle up for a blockbuster schedule.