The semi-finals for the 2019 US Open are all set for Thursday night after the quarter-finals from the top half were played out on Wednesday. Belinda Bencic and Bianca Andreescu will joined Serena Williams and Elina Svitolina in the last four. I think it’s an exciting semi-final line-up! Read on for the highlights from day 10 of the 2019 US Open.
Match reviews 🎾
(13) Belinda Bencic d. (23) Donna Vekic, 7-6(5) 6-3
In the first of Wednesday’s quarter-finals, Belinda Bencic edged a tight two setter against Donna Vekic to reach her maiden Slam semi-final. The first set really could have gone either way. Vekic served for it, Bencic had a set point and then it was the latter who held her nerve in the tiebreak. Bencic played a poor game to drop her serve at 4-4 in the first set with a pair of double faults and a misjudgement moving forward on a forehand on a game point. The Swiss player appeared frustrated with movements in the crowd but she quickly refocused with a super return game to immediately break back.
I thought Bencic returned much better from that point onwards and she was always able to rely on her first serve as she won 32 of 38 points behind it. The serve has been a big improvement this year. All in all, a landmark tournament for Vekic who continues to make steady strides on tour. The top 20 is in sight and she should crack it during Asia.
While I was sleeping… 😲
Bianca Andreescu extended her winning streak to 11 with a three set win over Elise Mertens, 3-6 6-2 6-3. Andreescu has won her last 12 three set matches! What a run 👏.
Stat watch 🔢
Incredible stat highlighted from the Toronto Rogers Cup Twitter page – their last four champs are this year’s US Open semi-finalists!
Handshakes and hugs 🤗
Lovely moment at the net between Bencic and Vekic.
LOL moment 🤣
Loved this!
Press highlights 📰
Bencic’s quarter-final press conference is linked below.
Recommended media 📺
Andreescu’s post-match interview is linked below. Is this real life?!
Tomorrow’s OOP ⭐
The semi-finals will both be played on Thursday night. Who you got for the final?!
Moo's Tennis Blog 
Bencic is my pick for lifting the trophy. Andreescu if succeeded to go to final, will fall under pressure.
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I could see either of them getting very nervy in the final. I’m finding it hard to choose between them for a spot in the final, since they are almost mirror images of one another! I think that if Bencic plays her best, if she serves and returns really well, then she will be a touch too solid for Andreescu. I think Bianca may be the one who feels that she needs to be the aggressor, and that may cause her to make mistakes. She’s been pretty up and down all week, really.
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A rematch of the rogers cup of Serena Vs Andreescu would be interesting. hopefully Serena is not foiled by injury issues/
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Well it’s the final that many of us hoped for (although I would have also liked Serena v Osaka). Will Serena win her 24th, 20 years after she won her first. Or will Andreescu, who wasn’t even born when Serena won here first, win on her first trip to the main draw at Flushing Meadows?
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It seems the 24th is a massive motivation for her and her stats on playing opponents the second time is good. Plus, her stats on US open comebacks is good. Given the journey so far, all things being ideal, I feel she tops Andreescu. But, we’ve seen how finals can play out for her too, so who knows. My heart is with the Canuck though( canadian connection).
Going on a tangent here, but, anyway here is my argument. We’ve seen Serena play, especially her last few matches. Come Saturday, win or lose, will it change that level of tennis that we saw ? Wang, said it best. She’s a great player for good reason. It’s likely Wang had heard of her ability, but having experienced it first hand, and asked about it, she said it was powerful, every aspect of it. She may have lost to Osaka last year, but who is making another Us open final, after a another Wimbledon final. Be it 24, 25, 26, she is already it for me. Since it’s not about me, I wish her the best on her quest.
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When you have Serena covering the court better than you, surely, you know it’s not going to be your day. Elina was outfoxed and outplayed. At 3-1 down in the second set, you could see her literally give up. She was simply out of sorts.
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Yeah I think her decision to watch Gael instead of resting was a poor one! I’ve noticed that she’s entered to play four (!) events in Asia- at the moment she’s down at #10 in the Road to Shenzhen, she really needs a title to get her into the qualification zone!
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