We’re up to the final Grand Slam of the year, which means that our writers are here to predict the biggest matches of each day of the US Open. The first day includes one of the biggest first-round matches we’ve seen at a Slam in a long time–Simona Halep vs Maria Sharapova. Don’t let that overshadow the other big Day 1 matches, though. We’re in for a great start to the tournament. Today’s panelists are writers Vithun Illankovan, Jakub Bobro, and Brett Margolies.
Panelists Predictions US Open Women’s Day 1
Garbine Muguruza vs Varvara Lepchenko
Brett:
Garbine Muguruza is coming in to the US Open fresh off winning the title in Cincinnati in dominant fashion. She’s the oddsmakers’ favorite on the women’s side and can’t see Varvara Lepchenko being much of a threat. Look for Muguruza to continue her recent form from Cincinnati and win fairly comfortably.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Vithun:
Unlike most people, I have been satisfied with Muguruza’s form throughout 2017 and not just post-French Open. In previous years, there have been valid reasons for her early US Open losses. In 2015 she was going through the letdown period after making her first Grand Slam final; in 2016 she was struggling with the pressure of being a Grand Slam champion. There are no reasons for an early defeat this year.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Jakub:
Muguruza is coming in as one of the favorites, and is definitely expected to make it past first round. Even though this is Lepchenko’s home slam, I don’t see the American taking Muguruza out at this stage in her career. The most I expect from her is pushing Muguruza to a tiebreak or 5-7 in one of the sets.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
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Petra Kvitova vs Jelena Jankovic
Brett:
A couple years ago it would be crazy to see this as a first round match at a grand slam. Kvitova’s comeback hasn’t exactly gone to plan throughout the summer hard court swing, but just seeing her on the court is a win in itself. Jankovic hasn’t played since the Citi Open where she retired in the first round. Lack of match play will hurt Jankovic and I can’t see her getting past Kvitova.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Vithun:
Jankovic has had a truly woeful 2017 season. Whilst Kvitova has unfortunately not yet showed us any pre-stabbing form since her return to the WTA Tour, she has definitely been playing well enough to comfortably dispatch Jankovic.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Jakub:
Today on “Match-ups That Would Have Been Better 5 Years Ago”… Kvitova has struggled through the US Open series, but Jankovic has struggled through the past couple of seasons. It is a match with two big names, but I wouldn’t expect a lot of quality.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
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Sloane Stephens vs Roberta Vinci
Brett:
One of the biggest stories of the summer has to be how quickly Sloane Stephens has risen through the rankings. In the beginning of August she was ranked #934, after making back to back semifinals appearances in Toronto, and Cincinnati she seems like a real threat to make a deep run. Roberta Vinci has had big wins at the US Open including upsetting Serena Williams in 2015, but I don’t think she’s playing well enough to do any damage in this years tournament.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
Vithun:
We hyped the returns of Sharapova, Kvitova, and Azarenka this year, but Stephens’s return has been by far the most impressive so far. Despite Vinci having a great record here, she really isn’t an opponent who Stephens given the players she has beaten in recent weeks.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Jakub:
Sloane has been very resurgent in the US Open series, and I do expect very good results from her here. Vinci is playing her last or second to last US Open, and she has only good memories here. I expect a fun match with a great crowd, but a Sloane win in the end.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
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Ana Konjuh vs Ashleigh Barty
Brett:
This match has the potential to be one of the better first round matches on the women’s side. Ashleigh Barty has had a great summer so far including wins over Elena Vesnina in Toronto, and a win over Venus Williams in Cincinnati. Konjuh is coming in after two straight first round losses so she’s not playing great at the moment. I like Barty’s chances to make it through to the 2nd round based off of her current form.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Vithun:
A tough match to call. Konjuh is defending quarterfinal points – recently on the WTA Tour we have seen that most players struggle to cope with the pressure of defending a large amount of ranking points. In addition, Barty has been very consistent during the US Open series.
Prediction: Barty in 3
Jakub:
Another match up to feast your eyes on. Two young talented players, both skilled on hard courts, set to play their second match head-to-head. Purely on form, I pick Barty to win in two close sets.
Prediction: Barty in 2
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Simona Halep vs Maria Sharapova
Brett:
This is obviously the match that stuck out to everyone when the draw was released. It’s not often you get a match that’s worthy of a final in the first round. I don’t think Sharapova would play if she wasn’t ok physically so the fact that she’s playing makes me believe she’ll be a serious contender in New York. It won’t be easy, but I think Sharapova will get past Halep in a tough first round match.
Prediction: Sharapova in 3
Vithun:
So glad to see Sharapova back playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam! I’m not surprised that she was awarded a wild card after the French Open was won by an unseeded title-less 20-year-old who still has many weaknesses in her game. Halep is a beta-level player like Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray – she is not mentally strong enough to get to No. 1 through winning the final match, but only by her rivals dropping points. For this reason, as long as Sharapova is 100% fit, Halep will choke during the match and become passive enough for the 2006 champion to win.
Prediction: Sharapova in 3
Jakub:
Definitely the match of the day, and it will probably be the match of the first week. It will be a great spectacle for the Night Session. We don’t know what to expect from Sharapova, as she was struggling with injury in past weeks. I do have a feeling that Sharapova would not play if she wasn’t fully fit, so I expect a top performance from her, enough to beat Halep.
Prediction: Sharapova in 3
