US Open action starts on Monday. We here at LWOT will predict as many matches as we can. Who will move on on Day 1? In this strangest of Grand Slam tournaments due to COVID-19, anything can happen. Each set of predictions looks at four matches. In addition to this set, we have five others for you to look at. One features Karolina Pliskova vs Anhelina Kalinina, another looks at Danielle Collins vs Anett Kontaveit, the next headlines Angelique Kerber vs Ajla-Tomljanovic, another headlines Petra Kvitova vs Irina Camelia-Begu, and the last features Naomi Osaka vs Misaki Doi. Predicting this set of matches are Tracey Essex, Ewan West, and Andrew Watson.
US Open Women’s Day 1 Predictions
CiCi Bellis vs Tamara Korpatsch
Tracey:
Coming off a nice stretch at the Western & Southern Open, I like Bellis’ chances here. Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch is playing her first hard court match of the season, and the quick courts are concerning. Bellis should claim a straight sets win in her opener.
Prediction: Bellis in 2
Ewan:
Bellis was 5-2 in Lexington and Cincinnati (including qualifying) and made the 2016 US Open third round. The 21-year-old American should have too much for the German, who has not won a Grand Slam match.
Prediction: Bellis in 2
Andrew:
The American former prodigy is still only 22 but comes into the Open with lower expectations than the likes of Gauff. Bellis has a solid game, super court coverage and a great mentality. Korpatsch has had a really poor 2020 results wise. Twice knocked out of lower tournaments in the first round when top seed does not do a great deal for one’s confidence. It would be a surprise if Bellis couldn’t use her greater ability to put the German away here.
Prediction: Bellis in 2
Arantxa Rus vs Ann Li
Tracey:
Arantxa Rus narrowly missed her chance to upset Serena Williams last week. The Dutchwoman pushed the American superstar to two tiebreaks. Perhaps it was the magnitude that caused Rus to flail on the big points. Rus is in good form and should find little resistance from American Ann Li.
Prediction: Rus in 2
Ewan:
Rus served for the match before narrowly losing to Serena Williams in Cincinnati, while Li lost to Karolina Muchova in the first round of the same event, both after qualifying. Rus’s form and Grand Slam experience tip the balance slightly in her favour against the 20-year-old American playing in her first senior US Open.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Andrew:
Li is making her main draw debut at the US Open after having failed to qualify on three occasions. She didn’t have the best of times in the exhibitions during lockdown losing a succession of matches to her fellow Americans in various tournaments. Meanwhile, Rus was last seen pushing Serena Williams all the way to a third set tiebreak on the Flushing Meadows courts. Rus has beaten four players ranked higher than Rus in her last six matches so the Dutchwoman should be confident about despatching the underpowered Li.
Prediction: Rus in 2
Rebecca Peterson vs Kirsten Flipkens
Tracey:
Rebecca Peterson sits more than 20 ranking spots ahead of Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens. Neither woman is playing her best, but the biggest strides come from Flipkens. It won’t be a commanding win, but it will be a win nonetheless for Flipkens.
Prediction: Flipkens in 3
Ewan:
Peterson is 0-2 since the restart, while Flipkens made the second round of Cincinnati after qualifying. The lower-ranked 34-year-old Belgian could edge this due to her form and recent match experience on the same courts.
Prediction: Flipkens in 3
Andrew:
The Swede is the seeded player here but arrives at the US Open in shocking form. She ended 2019 with a great title win in Tianjin but since then has won only two matches. Winning only two games against Elise Mertens last week on these courts will have done nothing to restore any confidence either. The veteran Belgian doesn’t have a great record at Flushing Meadows though, only ever making the third round on one occasion in 2009. Despite this mediocre record Flipkens is favoured to progress here. Her slice and variety of game will give Peterson too many different looks for the Swede to feel comfortable.
Prediction: Flipkens in 3
Coco Gauff vs Anastasija Sevastova
Tracey:
Both Gauff and Sevastova are looking for redemption in New York after a dismal performance in the Western & Southern Open’s relocated Flushing Meadows home. A big hitting game and a backhand weapon, Gauff should be able to trouble Sevastova from the onset. The teen phenom will find it easier to close the long rallies which should be the hallmark of this match. The danger point is, of course, Sevastova’s backhand slice. If Gauff can steer clear of that shot, she should see a straight sets victory. But, Sevastova’s use of that troublesome shot will take this the distance.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Ewan:
The talented Latvian Sevastova is a 2018 US Open semifinalist, but has struggled badly this year, winning just one of nine matches. Gauff is 7-4 in 2020, including an impressive recent semi-final run in Lexington. Sevastova’s variety could pose a real test, but form and confidence are firmly with the 16-year-old American – who saw off a similarly tricky and skilful opponent in Ons Jabeur in Lexington.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Andrew:
The Latvian appears to be on a real downward trend at the moment. She probably maximised her talents but the lack of real weapons in her game is really beginning to be a problem. Weapons aren’t a problem for Gauff, however. Her power is impressive for such a young player and her mentality appears to be strong also. She will be expected to win this despite being the lower ranked player. This won’t concern the American though and those power weapons will be too much for a Sevastova low on confidence.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
