Tuesday finishes the first round at the US Open. Who will move on to try and claim the title? We’re here to predict as many matches as we can for you. In addition to this article (which contains four matches), we have three more sets of predictions. One features Coco Gauff vs Anastasia Potapova; the second headlines Naomi Osaka vs Anna Blinkova; and the third highlights Aryna Sabalenka vs Victoria Azarenka. Predicting today are Tracey Essex, Jim Smith, and Linda Celia Ellis.
US Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Simona Halep vs Nicole Gibbs
Tracey:
Simona Halep should be considered a top contender to win the US Open. The Romanian is one of the most in-form players, and has been since lifting the trophy at Wimbledon. While Nicole Gibbs turned in a stellar performance in qualifiers to reach the main draw, she will be hard-pressed to find a way into the Halep game.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Jim:
Halep’s recent record at the US Open is far from impressive with the Romanian having fallen at the first hurdle in the past two years. But, in her defence, Maria Sharapova and Kaia Kanepi are tough first-round draws. Up against the American Gibbs, who missed a significant portion of this year after a cancer diagnosis, she will surely feel more confident about her chances and rightly so.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Linda:
This should be a straight forward, straight set win for Halep. Halep is currently ranked #4 on the WTA tour while Gibbs is ranked #135. Halep is playing with a lot of confidence after her Wimbledon victory. Normally at her matches there are always a lot of vocal Romanian fans cheering her on. But at the US Open the crowd should definitely be fully behind Gibbs. Gibbs is one of the feel good stories of the tournament. Diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her mouth in the spring, Gibbs underwent surgery in May. Being away from the game made Gibbs realize how much she loved the sport and she has been working hard to get back into game shape. Halep’s game is stronger than Gibbs’s game, but Gibbs will keep a lot of balls in play and may be the perfect opening round match for Halep, allowing her to get used to the NYC conditions.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Marie Bouzkova
Tracey:
Ajla Tomljanovic has been so hit and miss. It’s hard to see the Aussie getting through her opener. Marie Bouzkova wowed in Toronto, showing she can go toe to toe with the game’s elite. The 21-year-old chalked up wins against Sloane Stephens, Jelena Ostapenko and Simona Halep. Then, the Czech pushed Serena Williams to a decider in the Rogers Cup semifinal. Bouzkova will use that momentum to make a deep run in Flushing Meadows.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 2
Jim:
After a solid couple of seasons on tour, it is hard to escape the reality that this has been a slightly disappointing year for Australia’s Tomljanovic, though she has had injury struggles. Bouzkova, in contrast, has played some great ball and impressed in reaching the semifinals in Montreal, where she took a set off the great Serena Williams. She seems primed for a good tournament in New York and will likely prove too strong for Tomljanovic.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Linda:
This will be the first meeting between these players. Tomjlanovic is currently ranked at #47 on the WTA rankings. Her career high ranking is #39 ,which she reached in April 2019. Bouzkova is currently ranked at #56 on the WTA rankings, having reached a career high of #53 earlier this month.
Tomjlanovic has never made it past the second round at the US Open and her last match played saw her retire in the first round of the Rogers cup in Toronto. In contrast although Bouzkova’s best major result is the second round of Wimbledon this year she is a junior US Open winner and is coming off a semi final run in Toronto. In her run to the semi final she defeated Sloane Stephens and Simona Halep, eventually losing to Serena Williams. Bouzkova frustrated her opponents in Toronto by retrieving balls that would have been clean winners against other players. In this matchup Bouzkova may just be too steady for Tomjlanovic.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 2
Aleksandra Krunic vs Jelena Ostapenko
Tracey:
If Jelena Ostapenko could ever learn to control her unbridled power, she would definitely be a Top 10 player. The Latvian has all of the pieces, just lacks the consistency. You never know what will happen when the former French Open champion takes the court. Will you see Ostapenko spray winners from anywhere on the court, or will you see errant balls and double faults? She’s a very streaky player who can turn in spectacular performances when everything clicks. Aleksandra Krunic has a 1-6 win-loss record on hard courts and recently lost in the qualies at the Bronx Open. The Serb leads the head to head, bringing in a win in their only meeting. But, Ostapenko should even the score in New York.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Jim:
One can never quite be sure which Ostapenko will turn up. The 2017 French Open champion can be absolutely devastating on her day and struggle to make balls at other times. She has played some good tennis this summer, but has, as ever, struggled to do so consistently. Nonetheless, it is hard to see Krunic, who is in rather poor form, causing her too many problems.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Linda:
Krunic is currently ranked #97 o\in the WTA rankings while Ostapenko is currently ranked #77. Ostapenko is well known for her surprise French Open win in 2017, and she reached a career high of #5 in March 2018.
Krunic’s highest ranking is #43 which she reached in April 2017. Krunic and Ostapenko have played once before, with krunic winning on the hard courts in Cincinnati in 2017.
In terms of rankings, Ostapenko should win this match, but Ostapenko has lost in the first round of every major this year and Krunic carries the memory of reaching the fourth round of the US Open in 2014. When Ostapenko is on her game she can fire winners from anywhere on the court so this match is really on the racquet of Ostapenko.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Danielle Collins vs Polona Hercog
Tracey:
Danielle Collins’ hard court swing didn’t work out as she wanted–a first-round loss to Siniakova in Toronto and second-round out to Zheng Saisai in San Jose. Since the American’s amazing run in Australia, it’s been feast or famine–and of recent, famine. Perhaps the feisty Collins can turn that around in Flushing Meadows. But Polona Hercog is a feisty competitor who will be looking to power past the American. It’s an interesting opening round clash where the winner will come through in the narrowest of margins. I give the edge to Collins – another American on home soil – who can rally the crowd support when she needs it most.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Jim:
Collins looked set for a big season after her sterling run to the Australian Open semifinals, but it hasn’t quite panned out that way for the former NCAA champion. But when she is at her best, she remains a formidable opponent and backed by the New York crowd, she should have enough to see off the challenge of Slovakia’s Hercog.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Linda:
This will be the first meeting between Collins and Hercog. Collins is currently ranked #35 in the WTA rankings while Hercog sits at #57. She reached a career high ranking of #23 in January of 2019 after making a semifinal run at the Australian Open. Collins also reached the third round at Wimbledon this year. Hercog has a career high ranking of #35, which she reached in 2011.
Hercog has never made it past the third round at any of the Majors and has only made it to the second round of the US Open on three occasions. However, Collins has struggled at her home Major and she has never made it past the first round in New York.
In this match up it appears that Collins is on the way up in her career while Hercog appears to have stalled.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
