Day 3 of the US Open will feature 16 women’s matches as we begin the second round. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our thoughts on each match. We split Wednesday’s 16 matches between four articles. In addition to this article, the other three feature Simona Halep vs Kristina Kucova, Coco Gauff vs Sloane Stephens, and Naomi Osaka vs Olga Danilovic. Who do you think will win. Predicting today’s matches are Fraser Learmonth, Pablo Mosquera, and Jim Smith.
US Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Elina Svitolina vs Rebeka Masarova
Fraser:
Elina Svitolina was blisteringly good in her first-round match against Rebecca Marino. Masarova did well to qualify and win her first-round match against Bogdan. However, this is as far as the Spaniard’s dream run goes I’m afraid. Svitolina is fresh off a title, in red hot form and over 200 ranking spots above Masarova. This one should be another quick win for the Ukrainian.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Pablo:
Few players have played better tennis this season than Masarova. The 2016 Roland Garros girls champion had to deal with a plethora of injuries in recent years. In 2021, Masarova has been a tearing through the ITF ranks, with two W25 and one W60 titles. Far from panicking, the Spaniard has stepped up her game in her very first Major, with four wins already. However, the road should end versus Svitolina, who is fresh off a title run in Chicago.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Jim:
Elina Svitolina made an assured start to her US Open campaign against Rebecca Marino. The challenge for the Ukrainian, who has hardly been the most consistent of players this season, is to back it up against Rebeka Masarova. It may not be entirely straightforward for Svitolina, despite the considerable gap between them in the rankings, with Masarova having been in excellent form. But Svitolina too is playing very well and she should have enough to get across the line.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Victoria Azarenka vs Jasmine Paolini
Fraser:
Azarenka was a finalist here last year and was perhaps a converted break point away from winning the tournament. She doesn’t come into this edition of the US Open in quite the same form, but her first round match showed she is every bit as capable on these courts as she was 12 months ago. Paolini simply doesn’t have the level or the hard-court pedigree to leave with Azarenka at her best. This could well be another quick second round match.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Pablo:
While it’s hard to envision Azarenka replicating her final run from last year, she should dominate Paolini as long as she’s healthy. The Italian benefitted from facing an over-the-hill Yaroslava Shvedova (No. 449) in the first round but isn’t ready to make a splash of this magnitude on hard court.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Jim:
Tereza Martincova offered little resistance to Victoria Azarenka, taking just four games off the Belarusian. Will Jasmine Paolini be any more competitive? The Italian looked assured in her 6-3 6-4 win over Yaraslava Shvedova, but facing Azarenka is an entirely different proposition. This should be another comfortable day on court for the three-time former-finalist.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Elise Mertens vs Valentini Grammatikopoulou
Fraser:
What a week it has been for Grammatikopoulou. The Greek played three tough qualifiers in which she was always the underdog and came through to make the main draw and cause yet another upset by beating the out of form Anna Blinkova in straight sets. However, she now faces a different calibre of player in Mertens. The Belgian has been in amongst the best in the women’s game for a while now and has too much firepower for the Greek to live with. This should be a routine win for Mertens.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Pablo:
After a promising first third of the season, Mertens has struggled lately. In the round of 128, the Belgian had to save six match points to get past No. 59 Rebecca Peterson. Hence, it seems like the optimal time for Grammatikopoulou to make an upset. However, the talent gap is so wide it seems far-fetched. The Greek qualifier’s latest loss came at the hands of fellow Belgian Magali Kempen, ranked No. 466, in straights. I really don’t see her surprising the World No. 16 Mertens.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Jim:
Elise Mertens was, somewhat surprisingly, pushed to the very brink in the first round by Rebecca Peterson. The qualifier Valentini Grammatikopoulou, meanwhile, continued her impressive surge by dismissing Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-2. But Mertens should have just about enough variety and power off the ground to get past the Greek, though it does not look like being an easy task.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Barbora Krejcikova vs Christina McHale
Fraser:
Krejcikova could well take the top spot in the WTA Finals race with a deep run at the US Open. She currently sits in second and didn’t play in the tournament last year. If her first round is anything to go by she will like her chances of moving up one place by the end of this tournament. McHale is a decent player by all accounts, but the Czech is in blistering form and won’t be stopped this early in the tournament.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Pablo:
McHale escaped a tricky opener against NCAA champion Emma Navarro but she’s not inspiring any confidence at the moment. With only two Top 300 wins since Rome, it’s hard to back her against any above average opponent, let alone versus French Open champion Krejcikova. With a convincing 6-0 6-4 win over former Vanderbilt standout Astra Sharma, the Czech proved she isn’t messing around. Since May, Krejcikova has only lost to Iga Swiatek, Ashleigh Barty and Belinda Bencic.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Jim:
Barbora Krejcikova’s first-round victory over Astra Sharma suggests that the Czech means business in New York. The conditions should suit her offensive style of play and it would not be a surprise to see her in the latter stages of the tournament. Christina McHale made a good start to her own campaign, but this is a real step up in the quality of opposition.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
