The stars have gathered in New York for the final Major of the season and, with 32 matches on the slate, there should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day two. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Venus Williams vs Greet Minnen, Jessica Pegula vs Camila Giorgi, Ons Jabeur vs Camila Osorio, Elina Svitolina vs Anna-Lena Friedsam, Caroline Garcia vs Wang Yafan, Aryna Sabalenka vs Maryna Zanevska and Daria Kasatkina vs Alycia Parks. But who will advance?
US Open Day 2 Predictions
Madison Keys vs Arantxa Rus
Jim: This has the makings of an entertaining match (though Madison Keys will the fairly heavy favourite). Arantxa Rus may not pack much of a punch, but she is about as quick as anyone on the WTA Tour. Ultimately, however, she will be too reliant on Keys making mistakes.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Damian: Rus has improved her career-high so much this year and won a WTA 125 for the first time, then a WTA 250. This matchup seems rough for her though and she’ll be forced to pray for a flurry of errors coming from the racket of Keys. The lefty spins could help her out, but on most days she probably doesn’t get there.
Prediction: Keys in 2
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Karolina Pliskova vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Jim: Karolina Pliskova has been in indifferent form, but she has a generally solid record at the US Open. She should be able to overpower Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the end, though the Romanian showed enough in the qualifying to suggest she can make a match of it.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Damian: Pliskova is so up and down this year and despite two quarterfinals in her last two US Open appearances, she’s just not a reliable favorite anymore. Ruse has had plenty of injury issues over the years, but no one can deny her talent. The former World No. 1 remains the favorite to win, even if it might not be straightforward.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
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Fiona Crawley vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Jim: This is a great opportunity for Fiona Crawley who will have the crowd right behind her and has nothing to lose. With Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova looking short of match sharpness (to say the least) in losing 3-6 1-6 last time out in Cincinnati, don’t be surprised if Crawley takes advantage of her opportunity.
Prediction: Crawley in 3
Damian: Crawley won the ITA National Player of the Year award for this college season at the University of North Carolina, but no one thought she was going to get through US Open qualifying. But here we are and the veteran Pavlyuchenkova will have to be ready for her. She should step it up if required.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
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Clara Tauson vs Anastasia Potapova
Jim: Clara Tauson lasted just six games in her most recent outing a week ago in Cleveland. The Dane is clearly a very fine player, but with injuries continuing to impact her and Anastasia Potapova a very effective operator in her own right, it is hard to have much confidence in her chances here.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Damian: Tauson’s fitness is always a question mark apparently and despite beating Krejcikova last week, she was also forced to retire at 0-6 down against Fernandez. Potapova seems to have lost her touch a bit recently, but she’s got such a well-balanced game. Tauson needs her absolute best here and she might not have it in her physically at the moment.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Main photo credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
