There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day two at the US Open with a number of star names set to take to the court. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Ashleigh Barty vs Vera Zvonareva, Viktorija Golubic vs Bianca Andreescu, Emma Raducanu vs Jennifer Brady, Karolina Pliskova vs Catherine McNally, Maria Sakkari vs Marta Kostyuk, Jamie Loeb vs Iga Swiatek and Petra Kvitova vs Polona Hercog. But who will reach the second round?
US Open Day 2 Predictions
Zarina Diyas vs Amanda Anisimova
After such a promising start to her career, Amanda Anisimova looks to be struggling with uncertainty in her game with a succession of injury problems not helping her cause. But there is a reason she is a former-Grand Slam semifinalist at such a young age. If she is healthy, which is not entirely certain after her withdrawal in Chicago, this is a match she will win.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
Andy: It is fair to say that the young American hasn’t enjoyed the breakthrough she would’ve liked in the last couple of years but she should still have enough ability to win this one against a limited opponent in Diyas.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Yesh: Anisimova has not been the same since her father’s death right before the 2019 US Open. The American has shown glimmers of her old self recently, though, and she likes the courts in New York. Diyas is fine on the surface, but not like the American.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
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Clara Burel vs Clara Tauson
Jim: One suspects that this is a rivalry that we will be seeing more and more of in the coming years. At the moment, however, it is surely Clara Tauson who is in the ascendancy. The Dane arrives in New York having won her last five matches courtesy of her run to the title at the Chicago 125 and will surely be in confident mood as a result. Clara Burel has looked rather less assured.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Andy: I think both of these players will have a good future in the game but I’m tipping up the Dane here as I think she has the highest ceiling. Plus with a recent title win in Chicago she has form in the book too.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Yesh: This battle between the two young Claras should be a fun one. Tauson has been the more impressive generally so far, though both look like names to remember in the future.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
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Anett Kontaveit vs Samantha Stosur
Jim: It is a risk to play a tournament the week before a Major, but one that may well pay off for Anett Kontaveit. She won the title in Cleveland and although that has left her with little time to recover, she faces a player in Samantha Stosur who, in Australian parlance, might fairly be called a ‘walking wicket’. As good as Stosur was at the peak of her powers, she is now rarely competitive let alone victorious in singles and this should be comfortable for Kontaveit.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Andy: As a former-champion Stosur will clearly always be welcomed back to the US Open. However, it is becoming clear that she is finding it tough to stay with her younger competitors on the singles court. I expect the in-form Kontaveit (Champion in Cleveland on Saturday) to win this one comfortably.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Yesh: Stosur is nowhere near the same player she was when she won this tournament in 2011. She can still play well at times, but almost never for whole matches or tournaments. Against the ultra-powerful Kontaveit, she doesn’t stand much of a chance.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
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Dalma Galfi vs Petra Martic
Jim: It would not be a surprise to see Dalma Galfi establish herself as a regular at tour-level before too long and the Hungarian looked a class apart in the US Open qualifying (barring a slow start in the first round against Louisa Chirico). But for all her recent struggles, Petra Martic remains a fine competitor with a wealth of experience behind her. She may have just about too much for the young Hungarian.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Andy: I always used to consider Martic a dark horse at the Grand Slams, but that time he passed now. The Croatian has only three wins in her last 10 matches, whilst Galfi has the opposite record. However, Galfi’s opposition has been generally of a lower standard than she will face here and I would still back Martic to have the game to win this one.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Yesh: Galfi is in the main draw here for the first time after coming through the qualifying, but she’s been given a match she just can’t win.
Prediction: Martic in 2
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