Fourth round singles action begins on Tuesday.
With the round of 16 getting underway, we begin to see some blockbuster matchups in the men’s and women’s singles draws. In a battle between a pair of four-time hard court Major champions, Aryna Sabalenka takes on Naomi Osaka. And another four-time Major champ, Jannik Sinner, plays the sport’s most impressive teenager, Joao Fonseca.
Plus, Tuesday provides a matchup between two top 10 seeds, as Amanda Anisimova faces Victoria Mboko.
Here’s a rundown of the most notable matches on Tuesday (in chronological order, all times local):
Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Naomi Osaka (16) – 11:00am on Stadium 1
Sabalenka has not dropped a set through two rounds, while Osaka required a third set on Sunday to overcome Camila Osorio, who had defeated her at this same event a year ago. The only prior encounter between these two champions with similar Major resumes occurred eight years ago in the round of 16 at the US Open, the tournament where Osaka would go on to win her first Major title. On that day, Naomi prevailed 6-4 in the third. But eight years later, Aryna is the more healthy and in-form player, and is a considerable favorite.
Arthur Fils (30) vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (9) – 11:00am on Stadium 2
Auger-Aliassime has already survived a pair of three-setters, coming from a set down against both Gael Monfils and Gabriel Diallo. Fils is yet to lose a set, despite just recently returning from an eight-month layoff due to a back injury he suffered last year at Roland Garros. Their first and only previous meeting occurred just a few weeks ago in Montpellier, where Felix comfortably won 6-4, 6-2 on an indoor hard court.
Frances Tiafoe (21) vs. Alexander Zverev (4) – Not Before 1:00pm on Stadium 1
Zverev was thoroughly tested in the last round by another American, Brandon Nakashima, who pushed him all the way to 6-4 in the third. By contrast, Tiafoe has allowed his opposition just 9 games through four sets thus far. But their head-to-head has been extremely one-sided, with Zverev taking eight of their nine matches. And he hasn’t lost to Tiafoe since 2017.
Learner Tien (25) vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (18) – Third on Stadium 1
Davidovich Fokina ousted 12th-seeded Jakub Mensik on Sunday, while Tien ousted eight-seeded Ben Shelton. Learner is looking to achieve his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal, not far from where the 20-year-old American grew up. Last summer in Washington, he lost to Alejandro in straights.
Joao Fonseca vs. Jannik Sinner (2) – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 1
This is the first of what I expect to be many matches between two of the most impressive players to come along within the past decade. Sinner has not been challenged to this stage, while Fonseca has already taken out two seeded players (Khachanov, Paul). And Fonseca is the player who is still proving he can live up to his potential, as this result is his best at a Masters tournament to date.
Victoria Mboko (10) vs. Amanda Anisimova (6) – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 2
Anisimova easily dispatched of Emma Raducanu in the last round, with the loss of only two games. Mboko is yet to lose a set, and is coming off a run to the final at the season’s first WTA 1000 event in Doha. This is another first of what may be many career meetings between two young superstars.
Tuesday’s full Order of Play is here.
