In a battle of Slam champions, and players that have won Majors in both singles and doubles, the reigning Roland Garros champion takes on the reigning Wimbledon champion. And two left-handed, multi-time Major champs will play for the 16th time on Friday. As per WTA Insider, that’s the most either woman has faced any player in their careers.
The men’s quarterfinals feature an Olympic rematch, with the top seed facing the Olympic bronze medalist who defeated him. And the gold medalist faces the ATP’s winningest player of the last six weeks.
Each day, this preview will analyze the most intriguing men’s and women’s matchup, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Friday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Ash Barty (1) vs. Barbora Krejcikova (9) – 11:00am on Center Court
This is a rematch from Manic Monday at The Championships, when Barty prevailed in straight sets on her way to the title. Ash is one of only two players to figure out a way to defeat Krejcikova in the Czech’s last 27 matches, with the other being Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic. Barty easily dismissed Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, dropping just two games, while Krejcikova ousted another two-time Major champ in Garbine Muguruza. Their Wimbledon encounter is the only time they’ve played in singles, though they’ve met many other times in doubles. As great as Barty performed against Azarenka, and as stellar a season as she’s having, Krejcikova’s dominance over the last three months in unmatched. Muguruza did not play poorly in Thursday’s third set, yet still lost it 6-2. In that set, Barbora struck five aces, no double faults, served 17 of 20 on first serve, and won 14 of 17 first serve points. Barty has become the WTA’s best problem solver, but with Krejcikova so full of confidence, Barbora may earn her first victory over the world No.1.
Daniil Medvedev (1) vs. Pablo Carreno Busta (7) – Third on Center Court
Since returning to North American hard courts, Medvedev is 7-0, and is 27-4 on this surface in 2021. Meanwhile, since leaving Wimbledon where he extended his career record to 0-6, Carreno Busta is 11-1. Pablo won a clay court title in Hamburg, and defeated both Medvedev and Djokovic, the top two seeds, to earn the bronze medal in Tokyo. Overall the Russian leads their head-to-head 3-2, though they’re 2-2 on hard courts. The Spaniard’s other victory came in 2018 at Indian Wells. Medvedev was miserable playing in the heat and humidity of Tokyo, and he won’t enjoy seeing this match scheduled during the hottest part of the day in Cincinnati. But once Daniil picks up momentum on this surface, he’s trouble. And he’ll surely be keen to avenge his loss at the Olympics, which seems the likeliest outcome on Friday.
Other Notable Matches on Friday:
Petra Kvitova (11) vs. Angelique Kerber – Kvitova leads their rivalry 8-7, and 4-3 on hard courts. Kerber defeated Jelena Ostapenko on Thursday 7-5 in the third, while Petra dominated an in-form Ons Jabeur 6-1, 6-2.
Sascha Zverev (3) vs. Casper Ruud (8) – The Olympic gold medalist is on an eight-match win streak, and Ruud has won 16 of his last 17. Sascha is a four-time Masters 1000 champion, while Ruud has reached three Masters semifinals in the past year, all on clay.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime – Both men defeated Italians on Thursday evening. Felix claimed their first two meetings, but Stefanos has taken the last four, including two earlier this season.
Karolina Pliskova (5) vs. Paula Badosa – Pliskova finally overcame Jessica Pegula on Thursday after four losses to the American since March. Badosa survived third set tiebreaks in both of her first two rounds, then downed Elena Rybakina in straight sets.
Belinda Bencic (10) vs. Jil Teichmann (WC) – Bencic is on a 9-0 run, and hasn’t dropped a set this week. Teichmann upset Naomi Osaka in the last round, definitively the best victory of her career. These two Swiss players met four years ago in Taipei, and Belinda won in straights.
Andrey Rublev (4) vs. Benoit Paire – Rublev defeated another Frenchman, Gael Monfils, on Thursday in two tiebreaks. Paire has won three consecutive three-setters, the first time he’s collected three straight wins since January of last year.
Friday’s full Order of Play is here.
