It promises to be an entertaining second day at the US Open, with a host of star names in action and 32 matches on the slate. 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, Karolina Pliskova vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Daria Kasatkina vs Alycia Parks. But who will reach the second round?
US Open Day 2 Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Maryna Zanevska
Nurein: Maryna Zanevska confirmed that this year’s US Open will be her last tournament but she is the beneficiary of one of the toughest draws. Sabalenka won the year’s first hard-court Slam at the Australian Open and willmost certainly be one of the heavy favorites to win the US Open. No surprises here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Glenys: First meeting between these two. Sabalenka has had a good run in to the US Open, making the semi in Cincinnati. World #2 Sabalenka should be untroubled by Zanevska. The Belgian hasn’t had much playing time or success in the lead up to Flushing Meadows.
Predicion: Sabalenka in 2
Jordan: Sabalenka is seeking to finally knock Iga Swiatek off her perch after 73 weeks as world #1 for the Pole. Zanevska has two wins in 12 previous Grand Slam appearances, but one of those was at last year’s US Open. Still, the world #2 and most recent Grand Slam champion on a hard court should begin comfortably in this one.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Kaia Kanepi vs Barbora Strycova
Nurein: In her second coming to tennis, it hasn’t been a productive return in singles for Barbora Strycova who has just two main draw wins from six tournaments. The same cannot be said in doubles where it looks like the Czech will prioritize going forward. Historically, Kanepi doesn’t lose first-round matches of the US Open regularly, so this should be a nailed-on win for the Estonian.
Prediction: Kanepi in 2
Glenys: An interesting match up this one. Having played once before in Cincinnati (2019) which the Czech won in three, they haven’t met on tour since. Kanepi has played more matches that Strycova in the lead up. This should give Kanepi the edge and revenge for the 2019 loss at the hands of the Czech.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
Jordan: The battle of the veterans as 38-year-old Kanepi takes on 37-year-old Strycova. Kanepi has a slight edge here though. Her previous results at Flushing Meadows are the better of the two. In addition Kanepi’s level this year has been good, while Strycova has not played a singles match in nearly a month.
Prediction: Kanepi in 2
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Liudmila Samsonova vs Claire Liu
Nurein: She may not have won a title this season, but Liudmila Samsonova has been one of the most consistent performers on hard courts thisseason. With a Power Index of #7 at the tournament, the Russian will have too much nous for the American Liu.
Prediction: Samsonova in 2
Glenys: This will be their third time playing against each other, with the head-to-head level so far. Both have made a final this year, but didn’t win the title. Liu most recently, in a Challenger level event. Samsonova made the final at the Canadian Open this year. This will be a good match for a neutral to watch.
Prediction: Liu in 3
Jordan: Samsonova plays her best tennis on North American hard courts. She won titles in Cleveland and Washington last year, and reached a final and semifinal this year in Montreal and Washington respectively. The US Open is also her most successful Grand Slam. Liu is a solid competitor and reached the final of the Chicago Challenger last week. But this will be too big a challenge for her.
Prediction: Samsonova in 2
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Peyton Stearns vs Viktoria Tomova
Nurein: It’s been a fantastic first full season on the main tour for Peyton Stearns who enters this year’s US Open entrenched in the world’s top 60. The young American has massive firepower from her forehand and will make use of that here. Tomova has the experience, but question marks linger on whether she will be feeling it physically here after her run to the Chicago 125 title last week. Stearns could nick this.
Prediction: Stearns in 3
Glenys: A first meeting of these two players. The Bulgarian won a title last week on the challenger level, beating Liu. Stearns has struggled a bit with form recently, and would love to go deep at her home grand slam. Unfortunately, Tomova is on form right now so it wont be easy for Stearns to make the next round.
Prediction: Tomova in 2
Jordan: 21-year-old Stearns emerged as an exciting talent during the tournament in Washington. Her results since then have been quite mixed. Tomova won the Chicago Challenger in the run-up to the US Open. Stearns will have the benefit of the home crowd, but Tomova might just be a little too solid to blunt the American’s attacking style. The Bulgarian to get her first ever US Open win.
Prediction: Tomova in 3
Main photo credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
