Any chance of an upset tonight? I don't see Badosa with much of a chance of beating Sabalenka. If Keys gets hot, she could cause problems for Swiatek. Still, I can see Madison taking one set but not two.
On the most likely current American male to win a GS debate, I'm with Zacha--either Fritz or Shelton. Fritz would need a perfect storm and a very favourable draw but if everything broke his way, he can't be written off. His lack of a high quality volley game seems like the biggest fly in the ointment. But If he maintains his #4 ranking that would be a big help in terms of getting good potential draws.
Shelton is still very much a work in progress, but that's in his favour. I think he has by far the highest potential ceiling of any American right now, and he has a lot of areas in which to improve further: return of serve, backhand, 2nd serve, shot selection, point construction and patience, and overall tennis smarts. But even improving in just a couple of those areas. he will become a much more formidable player.
I think that there is a greater chance that Michelsen is the next Brooksby rather than the next Fritz/Paul. His movement and general lack of athleticism will hold him back, and as for his footwork, if he and his coaches haven't worked that out by now, it is unlikely it will ever get much better.
Tiafoe: no chance. Korda: no chance. Paul: he is kind of stuck in one particular sense as being the American Rublev. He belongs in a very high tier, should stay there consistently, but there is little indication that he will ever escape that tier either.
Nakashima: too limited. Tien: potentially anyway I would put him in with a range at the bottom end of Mckenzie McDonald and at the top end of David Goffin. Probably closer to McDonald in the long run.
