The US Open begins with Day 1 on Monday, in what could include the final singles match of Serena Williams’ career. Do you think the all-time great will win? As always, our writers at LWOT share their thoughts on all the day’s matches. We split the Day 1 matches between eight articles. In addition to this article, our other articles feature Serena Williams vs Danka Kovinic, Leylah Fernandez vs Oceane Dodin, Bianca Andreescu vs Harmony Tan, Coco Gauff vs Leolia Jeanjean, Maria Sakkari vs Tatjana Maria, Simona Halep vs Daria Snigur, and Ons Jabeur vs Madison Brengle. Predicting these matches are Jakub Bobro, Yesh Ginsburg, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
US Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Aleksandra Krunic vs Elina Avanesyan
Jakub:
Krunic reached her third career WTA final earlier this season in Budapest, first since 2018, but the Serb has struggled to translate that into hard form, losing both her matches in the lead-ups in straight sets. Avanesyan is making her slam main draw debut here after coming close to qualifying in Australia earlier this season. The Russian got three solid wins in qualifying, including over Maja Chwalinska. Krunic did make her only second-week slam appearance here back in 2014 but on current form, the young Russian should be a slight favorite here.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 3
Yesh:
Krunic is the better player, but she gets an opponent who looked solid in qualifying. Still, I have to stick with the woman who is a better player overall and who has played on much bigger stages far more times.
Prediction: Krunic in 3
Jim:
Krunic played some fine tennis to reach the final in Budapest, but she has reverted to the mean since, struggling on the North American hard courts. Avanesyan, meanwhile, impressed in coming through the qualifying and, if she can maintain that level, she should have the beating of Krunic.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 2
Caroline Garcia vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Jakub:
Garcia is one of the more interesting players coming in, taking the title in Cincinnati as a qualifier, including wins over Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, or Maria Sakkari. The Frenchwoman is now at her highest ranking since 2018. Standing in her way is lucky loser Rakhimova, whom Garcia beat in straight sets earlier this season in Bad Homburg. Expect a similar result here.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Yesh:
Garcia was absolutely incredible in Cincinnati. She’s a threat to win it all if she can keep that form up. I expect the Frenchwoman to make a statement in this match.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Jim:
Garcia was superb in Cincinnati, winning the title and dropping just two sets in the process. Her 6-4 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova in the final was surely amongst the best performances of her career. If she can keep playing that sort of tennis, she should have far too much for Rakhimova.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Madison Keys vs Dayana Yastremska
Jakub:
Keys, a 2017 finalist here, is a dangerous floater in this draw, especially in her current form from Cincinnati. The American beat No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina en route to a semifinal. Yastremska, on the other hand, has been struggling. The Ukrainian is on a six-match losing streak, failing to win more than four games in a match since Birmingham in mid-June. The 22-year-old’s form is unlikely to shift here so Keys should be winning.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Yesh:
Yastremska was a potential star at one point, but she just hasn’t been the same since a positive doping test. Her comeback ever since then has been stop-and-start, and she just doesn’t have the consistency to deal with Keys here.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Jim:
Keys’ run to the final seems a long-time ago now with the American’s struggles to stay fit preventing her from making good on her considerable potential. Yastremska also has plenty of potential, but the Ukrainian has badly lost her way over the past two seasons, with off-court events not helping her cause. Expect Keys to have the edge here.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Anett Kontaveit vs Jaqueline Cristian
Jakub:
The World No. 2 has been struggling for form since February, only winning one in three matches in the lead-up events to the US Open. She has been handed a kind draw in the form of Cristian, for whom this will be a return from injury, not playing at all since Doha in February. Kontaveit might not be a title threat but should be winning here.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Yesh:
Kontaveit has been struggling mightily this year, especially considering where she was at the start of it. Still, she’s just the far better player in this matchup–and will likely earn a chance to end Serena Williams’ career.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Jim:
Kontaveit should win this match. She is the better player and the conditions in New York will suit her game rather better than Cristian’s. Unfortunately, for the Estonian, should has not meant will very often this season. Still, Cristian has not played since February and it would be a major shock if she had enough match sharpness to get the better of Kontaveit.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
