We will see the end of the third round on Day 6 of the US Open. Eight women will advance to the second week in Flushing Meadows, and there are eight incredible matchups to determine those women. As always, we’re here at LWOT to share our thoughts on all the matches. Four are in this article, and four are in a separate article. Predicting these matches are Fraser Learmonth, Andrew Watson, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
US Open Day 6 Women’s Predictions
Bianca Andreescu vs Greet Minnen
Fraser:
Don’t look now, but Andreescu is still undefeated in the main draw of the US Open. Her record sits at 9-0 and a kind draw is giving her plenty of opportunity to get back to the level that saw her win this tournament in 2019. That run of luck continues with a match against Minnen. The Belgian has never been inside the top 100 but has made great use of her lucky loser status here by reaching the third round. Nonetheless, she is outgunned in every area by Andreescu and the Canadian is starting to show signs of the elite level she is capable of. We may well be seeing the Canadian in the later rounds at Flushing Meadows if she keeps improving. Either way we should be seeing her in Round 4 at the very least.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Andrew:
Having been slightly against the Canadian in the last two rounds I feel more confident now. A solid straight sets win will do her confidence a lot of good. Minnen is having her greatest Grand Slam year and will now crack the top 100 for the first time. She may well feel in bonus territory now and whilst this may be a dangerous mindset there may also be a sense of “job done” for this tournament.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Jim:
If Bianca Andreescu can stay healthy, she can go deep into this tournament. And, after surviving a tough test, she looked fairly comfortable in beating Lauren Davis 6-4 6-4 in the second round. Greet Minnen comes into this match with nothing to lose, but it’s hard to see her being able to hurt Andreescu consistently.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Karolina Pliskova vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Fraser:
Tomljanovic did well to come through a tight match against Martic and book her place in the third round. Her reward is a match against a red hot Pliskova. The Czech won an incredibly tense tie breaker against Anisimova to book her place her and will be looking to push on and go deep once more in New York. Pliskova is a former finalist here and is playing some of her best tennis. Tomljanovic is having a career year in 2021 but still isn’t quite at the level where she can beat Pliskova at her best. The Czech moves on here.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Andrew:
The Czech may be wondering how she got through the previous tussle with Anisimova. Having faced down a match point though the Czech could become a dangerous opponent. She dominates this H2H 5-1 and won the last five, the last two on hard courts. Tomljanovic did well to beat Martic in straights last round so she won’t be walked over but Pliskova is the favorite.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Jim:
If Karolina Pliskova plays her best tennis she will win this match. It’s been another encouraging showing at a Major for Ajla Tomljanovic and the Australian has the game to keep this competitive. But ultimately Pliskova’s power should see her safely into the second week.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Emma Raducanu
Fraser:
Raducanu has made the third round in back-to-back Grand Slams and looks to be the real deal. The teen has also made a WTA final in recent weeks and seems more stable and confident in her ability to handle the big stage than she was at Wimbledon. However, she also needs to master her opponent if she wants to advance and that will be no easy task against Sorribes Tormo. The Spaniard dominated Hsieh in her last match and continues to play incredible tennis this year. She is a calibre of opponent Raducanu hasn’t yet managed to beat and while there is a first time for everything, it’s hard to see the Brit getting past Sorribes Tormo here.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 2
Andrew:
A real step up now for the teenage Briton as she tackles another improving player. The Spaniard is having a career season at 24 and has been impressive in North America, winning 20 of 24 matches in the continent. Raducanu has been highly impressive in the last month especially, she is now 11-2 in completed matches since coming over to the States for the hard court season. Tormo is rightful favourite but I have a feeling Raducanu will up her level again and find the answers required in the match.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Jim:
Emma Raducanu’s run at Wimbledon was clearly not a flash in the pan. The Briton has real talent and, hopefully, a very bright future in the game. Right now though, this looks like being the end of her US Open journey. Sara Sorribes Tormo is a wily and effective operator on hard courts. Expect her to outfox Raducanu often enough to reach the last 16.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula
Fraser:
This should be a brilliant match. Bencic has continued her Olympic form in New York thus far and is yet to drop a set at the tournament. Pegula has been equally ruthless and continues to confirm that she belongs among the elite in the women’s game. Bencic has more firepower in the form of her incredible backhand, but Pegula is a smart tennis player and knows how to make her opponents uncomfortable. I think Bencic is a real dark horse to win this tournament and should get past the American here. That being said, it will almost certainly be a tight affair and no easy task for her to do just that.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Andrew:
Really tough match to call here. Bencic leads the H2H 2-0, including a win on her way to Olympic gold last month but it is Pegula who has the most impressive numbers over the year. Both players have started the tournament well so there is nothing between them. I am just going to favour the home player because of the support and because of Pegula’s stellar record at home.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Jim:
After her efforts at the Tokyo Olympics, Belinda Bencic has earned the right to be talked about as a title contender in New York. But this will be the first real test of her credentials after comfortable wins over Arantxa Rus and Martina Trevisan. She has been playing well enough to pass it.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
