US Open 2024: Men's and women's doubles SF predictions ft. Jelena Ostapenko/Lyudmyla Kichenok vs Veronika Kudermetova/Chan Hao-Ching
This year, the US Open has provided fans with some exhilarating matches on the doubles front. Both champion pairings from past year have exited the tournament, adding thrill to the possibility of having new winners.
Three-time defending champions in men's doubles Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury were beaten by Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, who have made it to the semifinals. At the same time, last year's women's doubles winners Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe also succumbed to the seeded pairing of Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-Ching.
This was the first time Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury suffered a loss at the US Open since 2020, ending a win streak of 20 matches. Another upset was the exit of Wimbledon champions Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara in just the third round in New York. They lost to eleventh seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in straight sets 6-2 6-2.
With the men's and women's doubles reaching the semifinal stage, the mixed doubles final is also set for 6 September. It will feature some familiar faces and some new ones. A major upset on the mixed-doubles front was the ending of the Indian challenge in New York, with Rohan Bopanna and Indonesian teammate Aldila Sutjiadi losing in the semifinals. Their match lasted only 55 minutes as the eight-seed pairings could not keep up against Taylor Townsend and Donald Young.
As Day 10 kicks off, we look at some of the most exciting fixtures for the day.
#1 Jelena Ostapenko/Lyudmyla Kichenok vs Veronika Kudermetova/Chan Hao-Ching
The duo of Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok is set to take on Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-Ching at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in the US Open semifinals on 4 August. Ostapenko and Kichenok have been in great form at Flushing Meadows, as they haven't lost a single set.
The seventh-seeded Latvian and Ukranian duo defeated Irina Khromacheva and Anna Danilina in the quarterfinals in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4. On the other hand, Kudermetova and Hao-Ching caused an upset by winning over Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, the top seeds, in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 3-6.
The tenth-seed Taiwanese and Russian pair has lost three sets but is stepping into this fixture strong. However, Kichenok and Ostapenko also reached the Australian Open final, and this match-up is all set to be a captivating one.
Kichenok and Ostapenko have made four appearances in the final four of a major tournament as they target their second final this year after Melbourne.
Prediction: Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok to win in three sets
#2 Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson vs Jackson Withrow/Nathaniel Lammons
The seventh-seed Australian pairing of Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson is set to take on home favorites Jackson Withrow and Nathaniel Lammons in the semifinals of the US Open. The all-American pair defeated Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in the quarterfinals in three sets 6-1, 6-7, 6-4. They have lost three sets in their campaign so far, entertaining the crowd with their chemistry.
On the other hand, Purcell and Thompson won over top seed Marcel Granollers Horacio Zeballos in the quarterfinals at Louis Armstrong Stadium in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4. It was the second straight victory in a Grand Slam for Purcell and Thompson over the duo. The Australian duo has just lost one set at the US Open. They were also the runners-up at this year's Wimbledon and will look to end the year with silverware.
Prediction: Thompson and Purcell to win in straight sets
#3 Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic vs Kevin Krawietz/Tim Putz
The fourth seed pairing of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic will face tenth seed Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz in the other semifinal of the men's doubles at the US Open. Arevalo and Pavic defeated Michael Venus and Neal Skupski in the quarterfinals in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1. They have just lost one set in their campaign. Pavic has also been one of the most consistently performing doubles players, as he has the experience of winning the US Open in 2020. Arevalo and Pavic are the current French Open champions, and they reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals this season.
On the other hand, the German pairing of Krawietz and Putz won over Argentina's Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez in the quarterfinals in three sets 6-7, 6-4, 6-1. They have lost two sets at the US Open so far, also showcasing good form. Krawietz is also a two-time French Open doubles champion, and reached the semifinals of last year's Wimbledon with Putz.
Prediction: Arevalo and Pavic to win in three sets.