We have reached the third round of the US Open. Winners on Friday move on to the second week. Who will win? We here at LWOT will share our thoughts on all eight women’s matches. Four matches are in this article, and four are in a second article. Predicting today’s matches are Tracey Essex, Andrew Watson, and Damian Kust.
US Open Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li
Tracey:
Ann Li surprised everyone by reaching the third round. Against expectations, Li knocked out compatriot Allie Riske facing but a single break point, while breaking the strong Riske serve on five occasions. Kerber is a former US Open winner and a much higher caliber player than Li has met thus far. The match is really on Kerber’s racquet, though I expect the American will grab a set.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Andrew:
The 2016 US Open champion has a real opportunity now to make a very deep run into this year’s tournament. Ann Li produced a fantastic performance to knock out Alison Riske in the previous round and will not be a walkover for the German. However, this may be one of those situations where there is a comedown after such a big performance. Expect Kerber to use her experience to come through here.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Damian:
The 20-year-old American upset Alison Riske and even more surprising than the result itself was the extent of that victory. Li lost just three games and bageled the seeded opponent in the opening set. Angelique Kerber is playing for the first time since the Australian Open and while she appears to be serving slightly off-pace, her experience at this stage is undeniable. Li’s power tennis can get her into trouble but all these years of playing on the top level should pay off in the end.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Anett Kontaveit vs Magda Linette
Tracey:
Magda Linette leads the head to head 4-2, with each of the Pole’s wins coming on the hard courts. But, how much weight do you give when the last match played in 2017 and most of the matches were at the ITF level? Kontaveit has kept a low unforced error count, and that will be key in defeating Linette.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Andrew:
The two seeds in this section have made it through to what looks like a good match on paper. The Estonian has gotten better and better through her two matches so far and looks confident in her game. To borrow a stat from a fellow LWOT writer, Linette has won the first set of her last three matches 6-1, before going on to lose the second set. This lapse that the Pole appears to have in her matches will not do the job against a player like Kontaveit, take the Estonian to progress here.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Damian:
Magda Linette has made a habit of struggling to close out matches she should have won in straights at this year’s US Open. This kind of hesitation won’t cut it against Anett Kontaveit. Well, it’s unlikely she’ll even get such a chance. Kontaveit has a huge advantage of firepower off the ground and if she can keep that error count low, Linette shouldn’t have much to hurt her with.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Tracey:
Putintseva reached the third round with relative ease, giving up just 10 games. Perhaps that says as much about Putintseva’s game as it does about the level of competition–both players were ranked outside the 300. There’s little doubt the #23 seed will be made to work much harder against Sasnovich. The Belarusian dropped just three games in her second round clash with #12 seed Vondrousova. I’d feel better about Putentseva’s chances if she’d been tested earlier. As it stands, Sasnovich is playing well and has withstood a tough test.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Andrew:
Both ladies have been very good in their last four sets of tennis, with none conceding more than three games to their opponents in that time. Perhaps this is even more impressive for Sasnovich who defeated the twelfth seed Marketa Vondrousova last time out. Putintseva has an excellent record against Sasnovich beating her very convincingly on both occasions. It won’t be as convincing here but the Kazakh does seem to have the advantage here.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Damian:
Aliaksandra Sasnovich was brilliant in her defeat of Marketa Vondrousova, giving the seeded Czech just three games. Sasnovich likes to dictate the pace of the rallies and she will get to do so against Putintseva. The Kazakh is great at counterpunching but Sasnovich’s probably playing well enough find holes in Putintseva’s defense.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Jessica Pegula
Tracey:
Kvitova is serving well and will wield that weapon against Pegula. If the Czech keeps her nerves in check and follows her plan, it should be a straightforward win. Yet, I doubt Pegula will make it easy. The American has looked composed, fighting through difficult patches. But, I don’t think Pegula can go toe to toe when Kvitova is serving this well.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Andrew:
The Czech sixth seed looks primed for a possible title bid here but the in-form American will definitely have her say. Pegula was forced to battle hard by the veteran Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the previous round, though, and may just feel that in her legs somewhat. Just by comparing recent results against Marie Bouzkova, Pegula should have the edge here. She beat the young Czech in the first round, whereas Kvitová lost to her in the Western & Southern Open. It will be close, but Pegula may just run out of steam late on the in match.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Damian:
Pegula picked up some great form during the exhibition season and it has taken her all the way to her best-ever Grand Slam finish. The American appeared tired at the end of her match against Kirsten Flipkens but with a day of rest, she should find a way to regenerate. Will she be up for another great performance? Kvitova has been at that stage countless times and while “nothing unbeatable” (to quote Karolina Pliskova), she appeared rather solid in her first two rounds. Expect Pegula to force her to dig deep.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
