The dream lives on for Kristina Mladenovic. The French star barged into the quarterfinals of the US Open with a thrilling three-set victory over Ekaterina Makarova on Wednesday. The 22-year-old will look to continue her fairy tale run this coming Tuesday when she takes on fellow unseeded prospect Roberta Vinci in an intriguing quarterfinal showdown.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this matchup and while you’re at it, you can also check out our preview of the much-anticipated last-eight clash between sisters Serena and Venus Williams.
Roberta Vinci has been handed a free pass into the quarterfinals of the 2015 US Open after Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from their scheduled round-of-16 clash due to a concussion. It was a fortunate break for Vinci, considering that Bouchard was playing some fabulous tennis prior to her injury.
[sc:Other240banner ]Vinci has won at least 63 percent of her first serve points and 36 percent of her second serve points in this year’s US Open. The Italian has 11 aces, 63 winners and 74 unforced errors combined through her first three outings. For Vinci to pull off the victory against Mladenovic this coming Tuesday, she needs to improve on her service game. She’s won no more than 67 percent of her first serve points and 57 percent of her second serve points in her three matches of the tournament.
Vinci will be looking to create some history this coming Tuesday, as she has yet to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in her career. The Italian has a 0-2 record in Grand Slam quarterfinal matches, with both of those defeats coming here in the US Open.
Kristina Mladenovic’s quest for a first-ever US Open crown is still very much alive after recording a heart-stopping 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 win over Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round on Sunday. With the upset victory, Mladenovic booked a place in a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time in her career.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Mladenovic displayed the aggressiveness that made her one of the best young players in the women’s circuit today, outhitting the 13th-seeded Makarova in the winners department, 39-36. Mladenovic is averaging a whopping 23.5 winners per match in this year’s US Open. She’s also winning at least 72 percent of her first serve points and 37 percent of her second serve points in this tournament thus far.
Standing in her way in the next round is veteran Roberta Vinci. Mladenovic has never faced the Italian player before. The Frenchwoman will have no problem beating Vinci, though, especially if she can continue her solid all-around play. Mladenovic has dropped just one set in her first four matches of this year’s US Open.
