US Open 2017: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Karolina Pliskova in action
Monday 4 September 2017 19:24, UK
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Karolina Pliskova will be among the names attempting to restore the natural order on day eight of the US Open.
It's a cliche but with so many absentees followed by a number of early exits, the men's tournament really is wide open - a bottom half quarter-final line-up of Sam Querrey v Kevin Anderson and Pablo Carreno Busta v Diego Schwartman confirms that.
But all is well in the top half of the draw. Despite a couple of hiccups, Federer and Nadal are on course for a first meeting in New York.
Federer has his sights set on Grand Slam number two this year and like his first week in the Big Apple, he has been handed one of his most welcoming opponents.
After a five-set tussle with teenage American Frances Tiafoe, the Swiss third seed and five-time champion has drawn three of the five men he has beaten more than most without losing.
A 17th career win over Mikhail Youzhny, albeit in five sets, was followed by a 13th over Feliciano Lopez and on Monday night he will face Philipp Kohlschreiber, a man he has beaten 11 times and never lost to.
Nadal survived his first scare in dropping the opening set against Leonardo Mayer and he faces unpredictable Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, who has two wins against the Spaniard to his name and has the tools to cause more problems.
Nadal, champion in 2010 and 2013, has not gone beyond the fourth round in New York since he last claimed the title and, while unstoppable on clay earlier this year, has looked more vulnerable during the hard court season since Wimbledon.
Top seed Pliskova has endured a rocky road to the last 16, battling back from a set down against Nicole Gibbs and Zhang Shuai to advance to a meeting with world No 91 Jennifer Brady who is playing in the main draw for the first time.
Pliskova is chasing a first major title and kicks off the action at 4pm on Arthur Ashe and will be followed by Rafael Nadal and then CoCo Vandeweghe against Lucie Safarova in the afternoon session.
Federer begins the evening's action under the lights before 15th seed Madison Keys takes on fourth seed Elina Svitolina in the final match of the day where Brady, Keys and Vandeweghe will look to give the US five players in the last eight.
One to watch
Only one place to go here and that is 2009 champion Juan Martin Del Potro against Dominic Thiem. It really doesn't seem like eight years ago that Del Potro claimed the title but he has looked in good touch over the first week and a second US title is not beyond him if he can stay in one piece.
Thiem's position as the brightest prospect in the game has been usurped by Alexander Zverev's blistering form but the Austrian shouldn't be underestimated and has put together his most consistent year in the Grand Slams.
However, the sixth seed has never gone beyond the last 16 at Flushing Meadows and his clash with Del Potro is last up on the Grandstand Court.
Surprise in store
Given the way she has been playing, a win for 15th seed Keys over world No 4 Svitolina wouldn't be a huge surprise, especially with the crowd on her side so we head to the men's draw for our shock.
Andrey Rublev will fancy his chances against David Goffin who has probably surprised himself in reaching this stage so soon after an injury lay-off.
Rublev is another of the NextGen stars making their mark over the second half of the season and has beaten Grigor Dimitrov on his way to a first Grand Slam fourth round.
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the US Open covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with our live blogs and updates throughout the fortnight as the Grand Slam year reaches its climax.
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We will also have coverage of the World Tour Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
