US Open revamps mixed doubles format, adds $1 million prize to incentivize "biggest names in the sport"

Home life and work life seem to mix well in the Keys household. Her fiancé, Bjorn Fratangelo, recently began to double as her coach. So far, what sounds like a recipe for friction has yielded a mostly smooth trip to the quarterfinals, her second straight at a major. Keys sounds happy with the set-up and eager to train.

Now she’ll face a new challenge in Vondrousova. The two have never played, so Keys can only guess at what the eclectic and deceptive Wimbledon champion will bring to the court against her.

“Seeing that she’s been able to now win a Grand Slam and be in the quarterfinals here, I think she has a unique style,” Keys says, “because I think she balances being a little bit trickier and things like that, but also has some pretty good power and finesse.”

That sounds about right. Vondrousova will never say no to a drop shot, but she can also win points with her topspin lefty forehand or flatter two-handed backhand. She would seem to have the perfect game to disrupt the rhythm that Keys needs to belt the winners that define her game.

The problem for Vondrousova may be physical. She was nursing a sore shoulder in her last match. For that reason, and because Keys does seem to be in a good groove right now, I’ll take the lower-ranked American. Winner: Keys

Vondrousova is going for her 15th major win of the season.

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Aryna Sabalenka vs. Zheng Qinwen

Zheng is only 20, but it feels as if we’ve been waiting for her to make a move at a major for a little while. After showing a lot of promise in 2022, she lost early at the first three Slams this season. But her heavy ground strokes are still very much intact, and now, with Naomi Osaka’s former coach, Wim Fissette, in her camp, she’s starting to harness them. Fissette says they’ve worked on smoothing out her forehand a bit, and getting her to attack at the right times. She did both well enough to beat No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur in two convincing sets this weekend.

But even as Zheng begins her move up the WTA ladder, Sabalenka suddenly finds herself at the very top of it. With Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round loss, Sabalenka takes over the No. 1 ranking for the first time. She doesn’t have much time to celebrate, though, because her first meeting with Zheng will require her full concentration, and likely something close to her best tennis.

Not many women hit as big as Zheng, but Sabalenka is one of them. She’s the most powerful player left in the draw, and the highest seed. But we don’t know exactly how these two will match up. Who will control the rallies, who will use her weapons more efficiently, and who will get more nervous? Sabalenka usually doesn’t have that problem until the semifinals. Winner: Sabalenka