The second round of the US Open starts on Wednesday. We’re here at LWOT to predict every match match for you. Who will win on Day 3? Let’s look at the matches. This set of predictions contains four matches. We also have three more groups for Wednesday’s matches. One features Kirsten Flipkens vs Jessica Pegula, the next headlines CiCi Bellis vs Jennifer Brady, and the final group features Madison Brengle vs Dayana Yastremska. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Andrew Watson, and myself (Yesh Ginsburg).
US Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Kristina Mladenovic vs Varvara Gracheva
Jim:
Having spent the 2018 season in freefall, Mladenovic has spent the past 18 months stabilising her career and, despite some continuing inconsistency, looks just about ready to turn a corner. Her game looked to be in good shape in her first-round win over Hailey Baptiste and, if she can maintain that level, she should have too much in her locker for Gracheva.
Prediction: Mladenovic in 3
Andrew:
The Frenchwoman let out a scream of relief after winning her first round match and has since talked about how difficult she is finding life within the bubble. Mladenovic should hope that it won’t affect her tennis too much because Gracheva has the ability to take her out. Gracheva’s service stats over the last twelve months are better than Mladenovic’s and this could give her the edge in this match.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
Yesh:
She is not quite her former self again, but Mladenovic is in far better form than we’ve seen in recent years. That should be enough to get her by Gracheva, but it might not be so easy.
Prediction: Mladenovic in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Jim:
This is a tough match to call. Vondrousova did reach the fourth round at the US Open in 2018, but has otherwise struggled away from the clay and seems to have struggled everywhere since reaching the French Open final last season. However, she was undeniably impressive in beating Greet Minnen in her opener. Sasnovich, meanwhile, can beat just about anyone on her day. But Vondrousova was good enough against Minnen to suggest that this could be a big tournament for her.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Andrew:
The French Open finalist has had a poor period leading up to this tournament but showed no ill effects against Greet Minnen in the first round. Dominant on serve and dangerous on return but against a weak opponent. Sasnovich had to show fight and tenacity as well as quality to win through Di Lorenzo in three. Vondrousova is favoured here and a straight sets win would be another big confidence booster going into a tougher third round match.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Yesh:
Sasnovich played a terrible first set against Francesca Di Lorenzo before she turned things around and ran away with the first-round match. She cannot
afford such a slow start in this one. Vondrousova won’t let her back in it.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Alison Riske vs Ann Li
Jim:
Riske made an excellent start to her US Open campaign, dismissing Tatjana Maria for the loss of only five games. She may not find things quite so straightforward up against Li, who does not make for as an inviting a match up as the German. But Riske is the higher-ranked player for a reason. Expect her to advance.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Andrew:
Riske won very comfortably against Tatjana Maria but that should have been expected against that opponent given her 5-0 career record against her. Li, meanwhile, did very well to beat her higher ranked opponent Arantxa Rus in three sets. Riske should feel confident of getting the better of Li in this encounter, the only time they have played on tour so far Riske took the victory in straight sets. It could be the same outcome here.
Prediction: Riske in 2
Yesh:
Riske has somewhat quietly become a top player on surfaces other than grass. She should have no trouble at all in this matchup. Expect an easy and quick win.
Prediction: Riske in 2
Naomi Osaka vs Camila Giorgi
Jim:
Neither woman was particularly inspiring in the first round. But the fact that Osaka was able to get past Misaki Doi is at least encouraging in terms of her fitness after she was forced to withdraw ahead of the Cincinnati final on Saturday. With another day of rest behind her, expect her to prove too strong for Giorgi.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Andrew:
Giorgi is always the player that the top seeds would like to avoid in the draw. She plays with such aggression and surprising power that she has the ability to take down most players. Osaka will have been annoyed to drop a set to Doi in the opening round; matches such as that should be negotiated with the minimum of fuss. If the 2018 champion isn’t on her game here then she could find herself going home. Osaka gets the vote on the strength of her game and usual determination to win, but Giorgi is ver dangerous here.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Yesh:
Osaka didn’t look great in her opening match, though given her recent injury concern she looked fine. Giorgi, meanwhile, was gifted this spot after Alison Van Uytvanck handed away their first-round match. Giorgi does not look in good form, so expect Osaka to cruise.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
