PREVIEW US Open ATP & WTA Day Ten: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and more face fiery quarterfinal showdowns
ATP
Day Ten of the US Open brings quarterfinal action to Arthur Ashe Stadium, where every match on the schedule carries weight, history, and high drama. With American hopes alive, defending champions in play, and legends chasing records, today’s lineup offers one of the most compelling slates of the tournament.
Jessica Pegula returns to the quarterfinals hoping to go one step further after her run to the final last year, while Carlos Alcaraz looks to continue his rise as one of the sport’s brightest young stars. Aryna Sabalenka seeks to assert her dominance, and Novak Djokovic aims to extend his record-breaking Grand Slam tally. Each matchup promises high-stakes drama, contrasting styles, and moments that could define the US Open.
Jessica Pegula vs Barbora Krejcikova
The day opens with a clash between the steady consistency of Jessica Pegula and the unpredictable shot-making of Barbora Krejcikova. The American has become a fixture in the top five thanks to her balanced game, elite return skills, and ability to absorb pace. Yet despite her consistency, Grand Slam runs often end before the final hurdle as she still has not won a Grand Slam in her singles career. On home soil in New York, Pegula will be determined to rewrite that narrative.
Pegula’s path to the quarterfinals has showcased her resilience and tactical awareness as she is yet to drop a set. She began with a solid 6-0, 6-4 victory over Mayar Sherif in the first round, then overcame Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3. In the Round of 32, she defeated former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 showing her ability to grind out matches against experienced opponents. Most recently, Pegula outlasted Ann Li 6-1, 6-2 in the Round of 16, maintaining composure through shifting momentum and beating the fellow American in just 55 minutes.
Standing in her way is 2021 French Open and 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. The Czech has had an inconsistent season, struggling with injuries and uneven results, but her variety and doubles-honed net instincts remain dangerous. The Czech star has taken a more dramatic path to the quarterfinals.
After a comfortable opening 6-3, 6-2 win against seeded Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, she handled Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 6-2 with ease. But things got far trickier in the third round, where she was forced to rally from a set down against Emma Navarro, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that tested her fitness and variety. The Round of 16 brought another comeback, as Krejcikova recovered from a one-sided opening set and saved eight match points to beat Taylor Townsend 1-6, 7-6 (13), 6-3, showing the fighting spirit that helped her win Grand Slams in the past.
Head-to-head, Krejcikova leads 2-1, including two wins in 2023 and 2024. That history gives the Czech confidence, but Pegula’s current form and home-court support could level the mental playing field. If Pegula can remain patient and stick to her patterns, she has a strong chance to reach her second consecutive US Open semifinal. Krejcikova, meanwhile, can never be counted out, with her ability to turn matches around and exploit any lapses in rhythm.
Match Info:
Jessica Pegula - Barbora Krejcikova
Start time (local): Tue, 2 Sep, 11:30 AM
Start time (your time): Tue, 2 Sep, 11:30 PM
Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Tournament: US Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Pegula | Krejcikova | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 1 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 2 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 4 | 62 |
| Race Ranking | 8 | 104 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 7 (-3) | 40 (+22) |
| Live Race Ranking | 7 (+1) | 60 (+44) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 31 (24 Feb 1994) | 29 (18 Dec 1995) |
| Birthplace | Buffalo, New York, US | Brno, Czech Republic |
| Residence | Boca Raton, Florida, US | Ivančice, Czech Republic |
| Height | 5'6" (170cm) | 5'10" (178cm) |
| Weight | 154lbs (70kg) | 137lbs (62kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2012 | 2014 |
| Coach | Mark Knowles, Mark Merklein (2024–) | Jiri Novak, Pavel Motl (2023–) |
| YTD W/L | 39-16 (71%) | 11-6 (65%) |
| YTD Titles | 3 | - |
| Career Titles | 9 | 8 |
| Prize Money | US$ 18,681,669 - 29th in all-time rankings | US$ 16,342,276 - 38th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
B Krejcikova d J Pegula WTA Finals -6-3 | 6-3 5 Nov 2024 |
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B Krejcikova d J Pegula WTA Dubai - Semifinal6-1 | 5-7 | 6-0 24 Feb 2023 |
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J Pegula d B Krejcikova Australian Open - Round of 167-5 | 6-2 22 Jan 2023 |
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Jiri Lehecka vs Carlos Alcaraz
The second quarterfinal on Ashe is a rematch of the 2025 Queen's Club Championship final with Czech star Jiri Lehecka playing five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz. Jiri Lehecka’s breakthrough run at the US Open has been one of the tournament’s most compelling stories. The 20th seed has steadily carved a path through the draw, demonstrating both power and composure beyond his years.
Lehecka began his campaign with a four-set victory over Borna Coric, recovering from an opening set loss to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1. In the second round, he faced Tomas Martin Etcheverry, again bouncing back after dropping the first set to claim a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 win. The third round saw Lehecka dispatch Belgian qualifier Ruben Collignon in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, asserting his control from start to finish. Most recently, he outlasted Adrian Mannarino in a four-set encounter, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, showing both his mental resilience and capacity to maintain intensity over extended matches.
Carlos Alcaraz, the world number 2, enters the quarterfinals in dominant form. He began his campaign with a straight-sets win over Reilly Opelka, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, then dismantled Marcelo Bellucci 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 in the second round. In the third round, Alcaraz outclassed Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0, before handling Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 in the Round of 16.
Head-to-head, Alcaraz leads 2-1 overall, including a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 win in the Queen's final (June 2025) and a 6-2, 6-3 victory in London 2023. However, Lehecka holds a notable hard-court win over Alcaraz from the ATP Doha quarterfinal in February 2025, where he triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. That victory demonstrates that the Czech has the tools to challenge the Spaniard on this surface, giving him a realistic shot if he can execute his aggressive game plan.
Match Info:
Jiri Lehecka - Carlos Alcaraz
Start time (local): Tue, 2 Sep, 12:40 PM
Start time (your time): Wed, 3 Sep, 12:40 AM
Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Tournament: US Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Lehecka | Alcaraz | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 1 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 21 | 2 |
| Race Ranking | 18 | 1 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 15 (+6) | 1 (+1) |
| Live Race Ranking | 18 (+4) | 1 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 23 (8 Nov 2001) | 22 (5 May 2003) |
| Birthplace | Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic | El Palmar, Murcia, Spain |
| Residence | Kněžmost, Czech Republic | Villena, Spain |
| Height | - | 6'0" (183cm) |
| Weight | - | 163lbs (74kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2018 |
| Coach | Michal Navrátil | Juan Carlos Ferrero (Head coach) (2019–), Samuel López (Assistant coach) (2024–) |
| YTD W/L | 30-16 (65%) | 55-6 (90%) |
| YTD Titles | - | 5 |
| Career Titles | 2 | 22 |
| Prize Money | US $6,189,496 | US $48,486,628 - 6th all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Alcaraz d J Lehecka ATP London - Final7-5 | 6-7 | 6-2 22 Jun 2025 |
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J Lehecka d C Alcaraz ATP Doha - Quarterfinal6-3 | 3-6 | 6-4 20 Feb 2025 |
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C Alcaraz d J Lehecka ATP London - Round of 166-2 | 6-3 22 Jun 2023 |
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Marketa Vondrousova
The third quarterfinal matchup has Aryna Sabalenka entering in commanding form, looking to reaffirm her status as one of the WTA’s most dominant players. Sabalenka’s path to the quarterfinals has been largely authoritative. She opened her campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Rebeka Masarova, followed by a 7-6(4), 6-2 win against Polina Kudermetova in the second round. In the third round, she dispatched Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 (2), before most recently defeating Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 16.
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Meanwhile, Marketa Vondrousova, unseeded but dangerous, has carved an impressive path to the last eight. She began with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Anastasia Selekhmeteva, then overcame McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the second round. In the third round, she defeated seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (4), 6-1, before a significant victory over ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Looking at the head-to-head, Sabalenka leads 5-4, but the matchups have been competitive. Vondrousova has taken three of their last six encounters, including a dominant 6-2, 6-4 semifinal win in Berlin (June 2025) and a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in Stuttgart (April 2024). These wins show that when Vondrousova is on form, she can challenge Sabalenka’s power with consistency, angles, and tactical variety.
Sabalenka’s most recent victory came at the WTA Cincinnati Round of 64 (August 2025), a 7-5, 6-1 win that demonstrated her ability to impose her style and dictate points. While Sabalenka holds the edge on paper and in rankings, Vondrousova’s tactical intelligence, court coverage, and ability to disrupt rhythm make this a potentially tight contest.
Match Info:
Aryna Sabalenka - Marketa Vondrousova
Start time (local): Tue, 2 Sep, 7:00 PM
Start time (your time): Wed, 3 Sep, 7:00 AM
Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Tournament: US Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Sabalenka | Vondrousova | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 5 | 4 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 1 | 60 |
| Race Ranking | 1 | 42 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 1 | 36 (+24) |
| Live Race Ranking | 1 | 28 (+14) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 27 (5 May 1998) | 26 (28 Jun 1999) |
| Birthplace | Minsk, Belarus | Sokolov, Czech Republic |
| Residence | Miami, Florida, US | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Height | 5'11" (182cm) | 5'7" (172cm) |
| Weight | 176lbs (80kg) | 130lbs (59kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2015 | 2014 |
| Coach | Anton Dubrov | Jiří Hřebec, Jan Hernych |
| YTD W/L | 52-10 (84%) | 18-7 (72%) |
| YTD Titles | 3 | 1 |
| Career Titles | 20 | 3 |
| Prize Money | US$37,300,521 - 8th in all-time rankings | US$ 11,074,054 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Sabalenka d M Vondrousova WTA Cincinnati - Round of 647-5 | 6-1 9 Aug 2025 |
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|
M Vondrousova d A Sabalenka Berlin - Semifinal6-2 | 6-4 21 Jun 2025 |
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M Vondrousova d A Sabalenka WTA Stuttgart - Quarterfinal3-6 | 6-3 | 7-5 19 Apr 2024 |
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A Sabalenka d M Vondrousova WTA Adelaide 1 - Quarterfinal6-3 | 7-5 6 Jan 2023 |
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A Sabalenka d M Vondrousova Australian Open - Round of 324-6 | 6-3 | 6-1 22 Jan 2022 |
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A Sabalenka d M Vondrousova WTA Miami - Round of 166-1 | 6-2 29 Mar 2021 |
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A Sabalenka d M Vondrousova WTA S-Hertogenbosch - Round of 320-6 | 7-5 | 6-3 12 Jun 2018 |
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M Vondrousova d A Sabalenka WTA Indian Wells - Round of 326-2 | 6-2 11 Mar 2018 |
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M Vondrousova d A Sabalenka WTA Biel - Qualification2-6 | 6-2 | 6-1 9 Apr 2017 |
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Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz
To round off the action in Arthur Ashe, Novak Djokovic returns to the US Open quarterfinals facing American number 1 Taylor Fritz. Djokovic’s path to the quarterfinals has been largely authoritative, despite lapses in energy. He began with a 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory over Learner Tien in the first round, then cruised past American wildcard Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round. In the third round, he defeated compatriot Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-3, showcasing his ability to maintain focus against higher-ranked opponents. Most recently, Djokovic dispatched Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in the Round of 16, maintaining consistency and exploiting Struff’s errors with precision.
Taylor Fritz, the American number 4 seed, has also entered the quarterfinals in strong form. He began with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Emilio Nava, followed by a tough four-set win against Lloyd Harris, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4. In the third round, Fritz overcame Jerome Kym 7-6 (3), 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4, and most recently defeated the 21st seed Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the Round of 16.
The head-to-head heavily favours the Serbian with Novak dominating Fritz 10-0, including victories across multiple surfaces and Grand Slam settings. Their previous US Open quarterfinal meeting in 2023 saw Djokovic prevail 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, illustrating his tactical edge and consistency in high-pressure matches. While Fritz has the firepower to challenge, Djokovic’s combination of experience, precision, and mental toughness makes him a heavy favorite to advance to the semifinals unless Novak faces some sort of physical ailment.
Match Info:
Novak Djokovic - Taylor Fritz
Start time (local): Tue, 2 Sep, 8:10 PM
Start time (your time): Wed, 3 Sep, 8:10 AM
Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Tournament: US Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Djokovic | Fritz | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 10 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 10 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 7 | 4 |
| Race Ranking | 5 | 6 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 5 (+2) | 4 |
| Live Race Ranking | 4 (+1) | 6 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 38 (22 May 1987) | 27 (28 Oct 1997) |
| Birthplace | Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia | Rancho Santa Fe, California, US |
| Residence | Belgrade, Serbia,Monte Carlo, Monaco,Athens, Greece | Rancho Palos Verdes, California, US |
| Height | 6'2" (188cm) | 6'3" (193cm) |
| Weight | 170lbs (77kg) | 190lbs (86kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two handed-backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2003 | 2015 |
| Coach | Boris Bošnjaković | Michael Russell, Paul Annacone |
| YTD W/L | 29-8 (78%) | 38-14 (73%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | 3 |
| Career Titles | 100 (3rd in the Open Era) | 10 |
| Prize Money | US $ 188,934,053 - 1st all-time in earnings | US $ 25,650,856 - 23rd all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Shanghai - Semifinal6-4 | 7-6 12 Oct 2024 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz Australian Open - Quarterfinal7-6 | 4-6 | 6-2 | 6-3 23 Jan 2024 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz US Open - Quarterfinal6-1 | 6-4 | 6-4 5 Sep 2023 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Cincinnati - Quarterfinal6-0 | 6-4 19 Aug 2023 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP World Tour Finals - Semifinal7-6 | 7-6 19 Nov 2022 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Paris - Quarterfinal6-4 | 6-3 5 Nov 2021 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Rome - Round of 326-3 | 7-6 11 May 2021 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz Australian Open - Round of 327-6 | 6-4 | 3-6 | 4-6 | 6-2 12 Feb 2021 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Madrid - Round of 326-4 | 6-2 7 May 2019 |
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N Djokovic d T Fritz ATP Monte Carlo - Round of 166-3 | 6-0 18 Apr 2019 |
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Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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