We're a bit past the halfway point of the U.S. Open, but now still feels like as good a time as ever to dish out some midterm grades. Without further ado:
Defending champions: Sloane Stephens and Rafa Nadal continue apace. Both are into the quarterfinals and look very much like threats to repeat.
Parents born in 1981: Serena Williams still has a long way to go to win, but she’s rounding into form and her movement looks as good as it has P.O. (post-Olympia). Same for Roger Federer, who’s in the fourth round without dropping a set, something neither Novak Djokovic nor Nadal can say.