We wrap up the third round at the US Open on Saturday. There are eight women’s matches scheduled for the day, and all promise some great tennis. Will Coco Gauff’s amazing run continue? We’re going to predict every match for you. Predicting today are Tracey Essex, Ryan Schick, and Jim Smith. In addition to this article, we also have another set of predictions with the other four matches.
US Open Day 6 Women’s Predictions
Yulia Putintseva vs Donna Vekic
Tracey:
Yulia Putintseva played a clean and consistent match to knock out the #9 seed Aryna Sabalenka. And, she’ll need to remain focused and consistent if she hopes to do the same with the #23 seed Donna Vekic. Facing an in-form Vekic who hasn’t yet dropped a set will prove a challenge for the Kazakh. It’s been a great run for Putintseva but I think it ends against Vekic. I see the Croat having too many weapons to drop a set now.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Ryan:
Vekic has won all three of their meetings without dropping a set. Putintseva scored an impressive win over Aryna Sablenka last round, but otherwise had a pretty unimpressive hard court season. Vekic has had a strong 2019 and will continue that into the 4th round here.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Jim:
Putintseva heaped yet more trouble on the shoulders of the struggling Aryna Sabalenka with her 6-3 7-6 upset of the ninth seed in the second round. But will she be able to repeat the trick against Vekic? The Croatian has had another fine season and should have the quality to oust the Kazakh in a baseline duel.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Julia Goerges vs Kiki Bertens
Tracey:
Kiki Bertens has yet to drop a set in Flushing Meadows. The Dutch’s stellar defense and return of serve are the keys to success in her last two matches. Yet Julia Goerges will be the toughest opponent the #7 seed has faced yet. Bertens seems to do better on grass or clay courts, but she’s proving to be a capable hard court player. I’ll go with Bertens for a straight sets US Open win.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Ryan:
This should be one of the most competitive matches of the round. Bertens is always dangerous, but Goerges is more comfortable on hard courts. The slower conditions should help Bertens who will pull out a tight match.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Jim:
Goerges recovered from her slow start to her US Open by brushing aside wild card Francesca Di Lorenzo in the second round. Bertens, meanwhile, may not be known as an elite hard-courter, but she has looked at home on the asphalt in New York so far this year. Her movement and penetrating groundstrokes may her tough to handle for anyone and expect her to prove too strong for Goerges.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Andrea Petkovic vs Elise Mertens
Tracey:
Andrea Petkovic certainly impressed in her second round match. Seems the German does well against Petra Kvitova and this clash was no exception. Petkovic saved five break point on her serve and converted on three break points off the Kvitova racquet, exiting the #6 seed in straight sets. The German will need her absolute best against an in-form Elise Mertens. The Belgian has dropped just eight games through two sets, winning all four sets played 6-2. Interestingly enough, Mertens defeated Petkovic in their only meeting (Mallorca 2019) with a score line of 6-2 6-2. That seems to be Mertens’ magic number. And that will send the #25 seed on to the Round of 16.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Ryan:
Both players are in this round without dropping a set, with Petkovic pulling off the massive upset against Petra Kvitova. However, it is always a challenge to follow up a big upset, and Mertens has a strong game and is simply the better player.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Jim:
Petkovic rolled back the years with her upset win over world #6 Petra Kvitova and has not yet dropped a set at the US Open. But she will be in for a stern test against Mertens. The Belgian covers the court just about as well as anyone and can pack a punch from the back of the court as well. She is surely the favourite coming into this clash and rightly so.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Naomi Osaka vs Coco Gauff
Tracey:
Even with a relatively low first serve percent, Naomi Osaka can grind out a win. Pretty remarkable when she hasn’t turned in the cleanest performance. The top seed has improved with each match and expect she’ll continue that trend, as well she should. Coco Gauff has the maturity and confidence to give Osaka a scare. The teen phenom is winning 83% of her first serves in play. Can you imagine what will happen when she ups her first serve percentage? This is a match that Gauff can definitely win and you can count on the crowd to carry her through.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Ryan:
oco Gauff is once again capturing the hearts of American fans at a Major. Osaka has looked a bit shaky, as she has over the second half of the year. Gauff is no stranger to the big stage, but Osaka will be locked in and overpower her to take the match.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Jim:
The atmosphere at this match is sure to be electric. Gauff’s never-say-die attitude has already made her a firm fan favourite and she has picked up two fine, battling wins already, over Anastasia Potapova and Timea Babos. But Osaka, though she has not been at her best, is a real step up in quality. Expect the World #1 to prove simply too powerful for the 15-year-old to contend with.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
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