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
Jennifer Brady vs Caroline Garcia
Tracey:
Brady is in fine form, taking the title at the Western & Southern Open last week. Add to that, the American eliminated any competition from compatriot CiCi Bellis in the second round, giving up only three games. Can she do the same against a motivated Garcia, who just knocked off the #1 seed in straight sets? This is an intriguing match which should go the distance. But, Brady should be able to edge this out.
Prediction: Brady in 3
Andrew:
Both women won through in straight sets, albeit in slightly different ways. Garcia was the underdog but showed her true quality in defeating Karolina Pliskova in a second set tiebreak. Brady, meanwhile, was never remotely troubled in her all-American clash with CiCi Bellis. The Brady serve and forehand combination has been devastating for most of 2020 and if this continues then the Lexington champion has a real chance of success here.
Prediction: Brady in 2
Damian:
Caroline Garcia played some amazing tennis in her second-round match, blasting winners from all over the place to upset Karolina Pliskova. Even more impressive was her mental performance and the way she overcame a possible comeback attempt at the end of the second set. On current form, Brady is more dangerous than Pliskova though. The American is playing the best tennis of her life after the restart. If Garcia can repeat her Wednesday’s performance, this could very well be the clash of the round. Still, Jennifer Brady has been showing that she can maintain her best level for a series of matches. Garcia, we’re yet to see.
Prediction: Brady in 3
Petra Martic vs Varvara Gracheva
Tracey:
Gracheva somehow climbed out of a 1-6, 1-5 hole to exit Mladenovic for this third round berth. Yet, Martic is an elite player – a much tougher task ahead for Gracheva. While the 20-year-old Russian will be bursting with confidence, the #8 seed should soon deflate that.
Prediction: Martic in 2
Andrew:
Martic continued her improvement in this tournament with a comfortable success over Kateryna Bondarenko. Gracheva, on the other hand, produced the most remarkable comeback seen in a Grand Slam for a good while. The Russian was down 1-6 2-5 (0*-40) and won the match against Kristina Mladenovic. However, in this instance favour falls to the Croatian to use her all-court game to get the better of the Russian.
Prediction: Martic in 2
Damian:
Gracheva did great on the ITF Tour last season but even she won’t be able to tell you how she won her second-round game. Down 1-6 2-5 (0-40) down to Kristina Mladenovic, she came back to bagel her opponent in the decider. Petra Martic is quietly playing great tennis in New York though, using her variety and great tennis IQ to defeat her opponent in not spectacular but efficient fashion. She is also nowhere near as mentally fragile as Mladenovic is and should be able to end Gracheva’s run, which is already on borrowed time.
Prediction: Martic in 2
Shelby Rogers vs Madison Brengle
Tracey:
The all-American bout between Rogers and Brengle was definitely unexpected. No one expected these two to meet in the third round, and they will now try to make the most of this unexpected fortune. In contrasting styles, Rogers will use her powerful groundstrokes to counteract Brengle’s stellar defense. It may take Rogers a bit to adjust to Brengle’s off pace shots. But, once Rogers dials into that change up, she’ll use depth and pace to end Brengle’s run.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Andrew:
Rogers should win this all-American battle after an impressive display against eleventh seed Elena Rybakina. Brengle was also good against her seeded opponent Dayana Yastremska, but Rogers has been in good form for a while and her weapons really seem to suit this court.
Prediction: Rogers in 2
Damian:
The second round saw both ladies produce great upsets over seeded players: Rogers over 11th seed Elena Rybakina and Brengle over 19th seed Dayana Yastremska. Brengle’s win, however, has to be assigned in huge part to the opponent, who committed 43 unforced errors in 17 games and barely kept the ball inside the court. Rogers has been playing great for a while, upsetting Serena Williams in Lexington and losing just to in-form Jil Teichmann in her past two events. The younger of the Americans should have a lot more to say from the baseline and she’ll not miss nearly as much as Yastremska did.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Naomi Osaka vs Marta Kostyuk
Tracey:
Osaka’s heavily taped thigh for her match against Giorgi is a huge concern. Is the Japanese superstar still feeling the effects of the injury which prompted her withdrawal from the Western & Southern Open? You can bet that relative unknown Kostyuk is going to test that. The young Ukrainian is certainly on everyone’s radar after upsetting Sevastova in the second round. Expect Kostyuk to make Osaka run, and who knows how long Osaka can last with an injured hamstring.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Andrew:
The 2018 champion is going to have her work cut out here. The teenager from Ukraine is a former junior Grand Slam champion and is making the transition from junior to senior tennis like a duck to water. Osaka was excellent though in the previous round so she is rightfully favourite. The serve was firing all match for Kostyuk and if it remains that way Osaka will have to be sharp on the chances she creates. The Japanese gets the vote here, but it may be a scare.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Damian:
It’s been some time since Kostyuk made the third round at the Australian Open as a 16-year-old and looked like a great future prospect. It looks like after two years, she might be getting ready to fulfill the expectations. Osaka might just be one bridge too far though, with the Japanese looking like perhaps the top contender for the title at the US Open. Still, Kostyuk should be paid attention to and the Ukrainian will surely show more than a glimpse of her extraordinary talent.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
