LONDON CALLING SAM QUERREY AS HE TURNS IN ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SLAM TENNIS EVENT • 2017 U.S. OPEN

Written by: Staff on 4th September 2017

LONDON CALLING SAM QUERREY AS HE TURNS IN ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SLAM TENNIS EVENT • 2017 U.S. OPEN

epa06182322 Sam Querrey of the United States serves to Mischa Zverev of Germany on the seventh day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2017. The US Open runs through September 10. |

By Ricky Dimon

Sam Querrey is going to the World Tour Finals. That’s right. You just read “Sam Querrey” and “World Tour Finals” in the same sentence. It’s happening. And it’s the kind of stuff you just can’t make up.

Although Querrey has by no means clinched a spot in the year-end championship, he appears to be well on his way thanks to his own outstanding play and to a smorgasbord of injuries to other contenders. The 6’6” American, a recent semifinalist at Wimbledon, is through to another Grand Slam quarterfinal after destroying Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 during fourth-round action on Sunday night.

As amazing as the performance was, it did not come out of nowhere. Querrey has now engineered the two quickest beatdowns of the men’s tournament this fortnight. Prior to hammering Zverev in one hour and 16 minutes, the world No. 21 disposed of Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes.

But he was even better against the older Zverev brother. Querrey clobbered 55 winners compared to only eight unforced errors, with 18 aces included in his winner count.

(I) felt good out there from the beginning,” the 17th seed commented. “I felt like even when I was warming up, the ball was coming off clean. I felt like I was going to play well before the first point started…. That was the best I’ve served all summer. It felt great out there. Something clicked.”

Nothing, however, clicked for Zverev. In part due to an apparent shoulder issue, the German was a shadow of the person who had steamrolled past John Isner two nights earlier. He struck only six aces, double-faulted four times, and finished with a mere 17 winners.

But in fairness to Zverev, it was more about Querrey. After all, Zverev committed just 12 unforced errors.

When was the last time someone made 12 unforced errors and lost 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. At any time in the Open Era? Since before the Open Era? Since dinosaurs roamed the Earth? Since ever? Someone ask Greg Sharko!

Now it is Kevin Anderson who will try to stop the Querrey hot streak on Tuesday. Yes, Sam Querrey vs. Kevin Anderson is a major quarterfinal matchup. Not Andy Murray vs. Kei Nishikori. Not Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka. It really is going to be Sam Querrey vs. Kevin Anderson.

Of course, if you think that’s surprising–think again. The bottom quarter is…wait for it…Pablo Carreno Busta vs. Diego Schwartzman!