At the 2024 US Open, Paula Badosa continued her impressive run by storming into the quarterfinals of the women’s singles with a dominant performance against China’s Wang Yafan. On September 1, at the renowned Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Spaniard took control from the very beginning, defeating Yafan in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, in a match that lasted just one hour and 22 minutes. Badosa, ranked No. 29 in the world, demonstrated her skill and composure, putting on a clinical display against her Chinese opponent.
Badosa’s dominance was evident in her serving statistics, as she won 70% of points on her first serve and was equally efficient with her second serve, winning 15 points. In contrast, Yafan struggled to keep pace, managing far fewer points on her own serve. Badosa also excelled in crucial moments, converting four of her five break point chances, which helped her keep the momentum firmly in her favor. On the other hand, Yafan will likely be frustrated by her inability to capitalize on any of the eight break points that Badosa gave her, an area where she might reflect on missed opportunities.
Despite committing 27 unforced errors, Badosa balanced them out with an impressive tally of 26 winners, showing her aggressive and effective shot-making throughout the match. Her ability to stay on the offensive while keeping Yafan under constant pressure ultimately secured her a place in the final eight.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Badosa, as it is her first time reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open. The 26-year-old is now in pursuit of her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance. Her previous best in a major tournament came at the 2021 French Open, where she reached the quarterfinals but lost in a tough match to Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek. Now, Badosa has her sights set on going even further, with a potential blockbuster clash against defending champion Coco Gauff looming in the quarterfinals. Gauff, a fan favorite and one of the tournament's top seeds, will first need to get past Emma Navarro in the pre-quarterfinals.
In the men’s doubles event, India’s Yuki Bhambri’s hopes of making his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal came to a disappointing end. Bhambri, partnering with France’s Albano Olivetti, was knocked out in the pre-quarterfinals after a straight-set loss to the experienced Spanish-Argentine duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. Bhambri and Olivetti were outclassed, losing 2-6, 2-6, at the Grandstand, with Granollers and Zeballos dictating play from start to finish.
Granollers and Zeballos, who are seasoned competitors with significant doubles experience, proved too strong for Bhambri and Olivetti. They did not allow their opponents a single break point opportunity while breaking Bhambri and Olivetti’s serve four times during the match. The dominant performance by the Spanish-Argentine pair underscored their status as one of the top teams in the draw.
For Bhambri, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow as he had been aiming to reach his first quarterfinal in a Grand Slam doubles event. Despite the setback, Bhambri’s performance at this year’s US Open will provide valuable experience and motivation as he continues to pursue success on the international stage.
Granollers and Zeballos will now progress to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the match between the Portuguese pair Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral and the Australian duo Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell. The Spanish-Argentine pair will be looking to build on their commanding form as they continue their quest for the US Open doubles title.
With the tournament reaching the business end, both the men’s and women’s draws are heating up with top players battling for a coveted spot in the semifinals. Badosa’s quarterfinal appearance, coupled with the high-stakes matches in the men’s doubles, promises plenty of excitement as the 2024 US Open heads into its final week.
