Friday at the US Open means that the third round is beginning. Serena Williams survived a second-round scare. How will she do in her next match? We’re here to predict that for you, along with every other Day 5 match. Who will win? Sharing their thoughts today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Jim Smith, and Tracey Essex. We also have predictions for the other four Day 5 matches.
US Open Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Elina Svitolina vs Dayana Yastremska
Tracey:
The oddsmakers clearly pick Elina Svitolina for a straight sets win. I do give Dayana Yastremska a chance at the upset if she ups that first serve percentage. Certainly Yastremska dials in on her aces. But, she’s the Tour’s #3 in double faults. Giving free points to Svitolina just won’t work out well. Expect a battle, but expect Svitolina to come through.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Jim:
After reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, Svitolina looks to be playing with renewed confidence at the US Open and impressed in her straight-sets wins over Whitney Osuigwe and Venus Williams. She will need to find that level once again when she takes her on countrywoman Yastremska, whose formidable power suggests she will be star in the years to come. But in the present, expect Svitolina’s guile and court craft to come out on top.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Yesh:
Yastremska is a rising player, but Svitolina is elite and in good form. Her US Open run will continue here as she advances to the fourth round.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Petra Martic vs Anastasija Sevastova
Tracey:
Petra Martic and Anastasija Sevastova are separated by the smallest of margins, setting up quite a clash in the third round. Experience goes to Sevastova who’ll recognize the biggest moments and do her best to make them count. But, heart goes to Petra Martic, who will treat every point the same and play to win. I think that’s what’ll give the Croat the edge over the Latvian.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Jim:
This match may not grab the headlines, but it is certainly one of the most intriguing of the third round. Sevastova has played the best tennis of her career in New York, reaching the semifinals last year, and could be primed for another deep run after a sharp start to the 2019 US Open. But she will need to be at her best against Martic, who is enjoying the finest season of her career. Fortunately for the Latvian, she usually is in Flushing Meadows.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
Yesh:
It’s hard to know which of these two is the better player. This will be a very tense match, though, and Martic sometimes seems more capable of losing her nerve in pressure situations. That might matter in the end.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
Fiona Ferro vs Qiang Wang
Tracey:
Fiona Ferro’s win was certainly aided by Kristina Mladenovic’s faulty play. The elder Frenchwoman offered up 11 double faults and more than enough unforced errors to pave Ferro’s way to the third round. Wang Qiang moved through the second round against Alison Van Uytvanck in straight sets. Breaking serve 50% of opportunities and serving at 72% first ball in play, it will be difficult for Ferro to interrupt the Chinese woman’s game.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Jim:
Ferro backed up her impressive win over Daria Gavrilova in the first round by battling past Kristina Mladenovic, which was her first win in three attempts against her compatriot. But Wang, who recently lost her coach Peter McNamara, has looked impressive so far in New York and with the Australian’s memory to play for, she should not want for inspiration.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Yesh:
Wang is playing better tennis right now, but there’s something about Ferro that makes her tough to pick against. The Frenchwoman is in the midst of a very strong summer, and that very well may continue. She has the game that can make opponents uncomfortable, which can’t be overstated.
Prediction: Ferro in 3
Serena Williams vs Karolina Muchova
Tracey:
The fact that Serena Williams has been able to find a higher level leads me to believe she will be nearly unstoppable in New York. In the first Serena’s second round, she was dominated by a strategically sound Caty McNally. Obviously, the McNally coaching corner had Serena’s “go to” patterns figured out. Yet, the American superstar simply changed each piece to take away McNally’s successes. By the third set, Serena was in full control. I expect she’ll do the same to Karolina Muchova who’ll be fighting Serena Williams and a fatigue factor without a rest day.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Jim:
After a great start to the US Open, Williams’ vulnerabilities resurfaced in the second round where she was given a real scare by 17-year-old Caty McNally. Muchova, meanwhile, is in the midst of a fine season and will surely have real belief that she can trouble the great American. She may well do just that, but ultimately Williams’ experience and power should see her through.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Yesh:
Serena started out really poorly in her last match, a trend that has crept up recently. Muchova has a big game, but this will be entirely on the American’s racket. She might manage to give away a set, but she won’t give away two.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
