The second round of the US Open wraps up on Day 4, and there are 16 high-stakes women’s matches. Who will advance to the third round? This half of the draw is potentially wide open, so we could see anything happen. We split the day’s 16 matches between four articles. In addition to this article, the others feature Danielle Collins vs Cristina Busca, Iga Swiatek vs Sloane Stephens, and Victoria Azarenka vs Marta Kostyuk. Predicting these matches are Jakub Bobro, Glenys Furness, and Jack Edward.
US Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Qinwen Zheng vs Anastasia Potapova
Jakub:
Zheng, 31-14 on the season, made the quarterfinals in Toronto in the lead-up and followed it up with a good win over Jelena Ostapenko. Potapova defeated Claire Liu in the opener but Zheng should win here.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Glenys:
The Chinese player dropped 16th seed Ostapenko from the tournament. A surprising first round result sees a matchup against Potapova. The Russian made the second round fairly easily taking out an American. Zheng will likely have the crowd behind her as a result of this. Although a tough match on both sides the Chinese will prevail
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Jack:
Anastasia Potapova is a tough second-round for Qinwen Zheng. The Russian is capable of hitting a heavy ball and has defeated some difficult opposition this year. But Zheng has been on a steady upward trajectory for a good year now and these conditions suit her already surface-versatile game nicely. Zheng should be able to serve well enough to take the sting out of Potapova’s returns.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi
Jakub:
Sabalenka, a semifinalist here last season and a potential contender this year, will have to face her nightmare from Australia, where Kanepi beat her twice. The Estonian has rightfully gained a reputation as a danger to top players at slams. This is close to a coin flip for me but I will lean towards Sabalenka exorcising her demons and coming through.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Glenys:
The Estonian battled through the first-set tiebreak and then broke through to take her first round match in straight sets. Sabalenka is seeded and fairly eased through to this stage. Kanepi struggles at Slams at times, with the furthest being a quarterfinal at each of them, but the most recent was this year’s Australian Open. The Estonian lost at this point last year so will want to do better. Sabalenka was a semifinalist here last year, so will be a tough opponent for Kanepi.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
Jack:
Aryna Sabalenka’s heart will have sank seeing Kaia Kanepi in the second-round. A rematch of their third-set tiebreak thriller in Australia earlier this year will cloud the mind, the giant-killing Kanepi finding her way through to the quarterfinals there. Perhaps surprisingly though, I have a good feeling about Sabalenka. Her losses have been far more encouraging of late despite the ever-abundant double-faults. A difficult one but Sabalenka to scrape through.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Alize Cornet vs Katerina Siniakova
Jakub:
Cornet has continued to get high-profile victories at Slams this season, taking out defending champion Emma Raducanu in the opener. Siniakova overcame Taylor Townsend in three sets in the opener. The Frenchwoman should come through here on current form.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Glenys:
Cornet took out defending champion Raducanu in the first round. That was a good match up for the Frenchwomen, but not for the Brit who has struggled since winning the event last year. Siniakova battled by Townsend in a topsy turvy match. The Czech will see herself as the favourite, but Cornet is playing well
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Jack:
Whilst Alize Cornet is prone to dipping after pulling off upsets, her win over Emma Raducanu will probably not have taken a whole lot out of her. Katerina Siniakova hasn’t displayed anything close to the Slam consistency of the Frenchwoman this year so, though she may still lose in a potential Collins third-round, she should be too in-form for Siniakova.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Jessica Pegula vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Jakub:
Pegula could be a potential title contender here, only dropping four games to Viktorija Golubic. Sasnovich is in good form though, making it all the way to the final in Cleveland last week. The Belarusian should provide a good challenge but I see Pegula making it through.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Glenys:
The eighth seed dominated her first round opponent, dropping only four games in total. Sasnovich also eased through the first round in straight sets. This will be an interesting match up. However with Sasnovich playing doubles the day before this match, could be more tired than the American
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Jack:
Wow. Whilst Aliaksandra Sasnovich made short work of qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Jessica Pegula made even shorter work of her tough first-round opponent in Viktoria Golubic. Pegula clearly knows how confident she should be feeling having gone 26-8 against players ranked outside the Top 20 this season. Consistency and determination should see the American through comfortably.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
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