The US Open kicks off on Monday, with a whopping 32 women’s first-round matches scheduled for Day 1. As always, we here at LWOT will share our thoughts on all of the matches. We split the 32 matches between eight articles. In addition to this article, our other articles feature Aryna Sabalenka vs Priscilla Hon, Madison Keys vs Katerina Siniakova, Amanda Anisimova vs Qinwen Zheng, Emma Navarro vs Anna Blinkova, Elina Svitolina vs Maria Lourdes Carle, Victoria Azarenka vs Yuliia Starodubtseva, and Maria Sakkari vs Yafan Wang. Predicting this set of matches are Jordan Reynolds, Tope Oke, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will advance?
US Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Viktorija Golubic
Jordan:
Badosa has played her best tennis for a few years in recent weeks. She is a dark horse to go far in New York. Golubic’s game is among the most fun to watch in women’s tennis, but she is not as devastating as Badosa at her best.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Tope:
Quite ironic that Paula Badosa has been to at least the fourth round of every Grand Slam except the US Open. Remains to be seen if she’ll break the jinx this time around, but the red hot Spaniard won’t have any troubles getting past Viktorija Golubic who hasn’t won a single match in six attempts at Flushing Meadows.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Yesh:
Paula Badosa has recently been showing the form that got her to World #2 a few years back. She’s probably still not good enough to win a Major, but she should go deep. Golubic isn’t stopping her.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Julia Grabher
Jordan:
Although Ruse usually plays her best tennis on clay, I like her chances in this matchup. She has a heavy topspin forehand that does not suit Grabher’s game. Ruse to use that weapon effectively enough to prevail.
Prediction: Ruse in 2
Tope:
This will be Julia Grabher’s first match on hard courts in over a year and there will be only one outcome against a resurgent Ruse, who has won six of her last seven.
Prediction: Ruse in 2
Yesh:
I’m not sure this will be the best of matches. Neither woman loves leaving the clay, and neither is in stellar form right now. The matchup favors Ruse, but this will come down to who can find more consistency off the baseline.
Prediction: Ruse in 2
Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova
Jordan:
Kudermetova’s powerful serve makes her dangerous when her game clicks, but she has endured a poor year so far. Mertens is a solid all-round player who consistently hits seven out of ten in nearly all her matches. I cannot trust Kudermetova to get to that level because of her results this season.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Tope:
Both players aren’t in good form at the moment; however, Elise Mertens can rely on her remarkable 25-1 first round record since 2018 to overcome an opponent who won their most recent encounter.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Yesh:
Mertens almost never loses in the first round of tournaments. Unfortunately for her, she almost never faces someone as strong as Kudermetova in early rounds. I think this might be a disappointing event for the German.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Coco Gauff vs Varvara Gracheva
Jordan:
Gracheva showed what she can do at her best in a three-set defeat to Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati. But she does not produce that level consistently. Gauff, despite her poor recent form, should be able to avoid an upset.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Tope:
Yesh:
Gauff is in the midst of a struggling portion of the season, but only by her lofty expectations. She came home empty-handed from the Olympics and hasn’t been at her best in North America so far. But “not at her best” is still better than Gracheva.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
