The second round of the 2022 US Open begins with Day 3 on Wednesday. The third day of play will feature several high-profile women’s matches, including Serena Williams as she continues to attempt to prolong her career. Will she win? As always, our writers share their thoughts on the matches. We also split the rest of the day’s matches between three other articles. One features Maria Sakkari vs Xiyu Wang, the second headlines Madison Keys vs Camila Giorgi, and the third features Serena Williams vs Anett Kontaveit. Predicting these matches are Jack Edward, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
US Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Ons Jabeur vs Elizabeth Mandlik
Jack:
There is no reason why Elizabeth Mandlik can’t trouble Ons Jabeur. Despite Jabeur’s lofty place in the rankings, the Tunisian still doesn’t find playing on a hard-court second-nature and Mandlik is already showing the world she can cause the best in the world problems à la Badosa, Teichmann, Riske in San Jose. Is this her break-out match? I think she’ll rise to the occasion.
Prediction: Mandlik in 3
Damian:
Ons Jabeur didn’t have an easy time during the warm-up campaign and she often doesn’t react well to hot/humid conditions. Elizabeth Mandlik’s talent blew up recently and she’s got every chance of winning this one.
Prediction: Mandlik in 3
Jim:
It was some effort by Mandlik to get the better of Tamara Zidansek on her Grand Slam debut. Her reward is a shot at Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur. The Tunisian has been in indifferent form since Wimbledon, but should still have too much quality for Mandlik.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Maryna Zanevska vs Veronika Kudermetova
Jack:
These conditions reward big serves and flat strokes. Quite simply, Maryna Zanevska does not possess these shots whilst Veronika Kudermetova does. In terms of ranking, Kudermetova came in as the favorite but with the added boost of the conditions suiting her, it’s difficult to predict any other result.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Damian:
Veronika Kudermetova has quietly made her way to the elite this year, making a lot of deep runs, but going a bit unnoticed due to not winning any titles. This is a good opportunity for her to keep picking up these solid points under the radar.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Jim:
Zanevska was excellent in her first-round win over Coco Vandeweghe, but Kudermetova is a different calibre of opponent. This should be a pretty comfortable day at the office for the Russian.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Bianca Andreescu vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Jack:
Here it is, the second-round clash of the “Bia”s we’ve all been waiting for. Whilst Bianca Andreescu is obviously not to be underestimated, I can’t really wrap my head around Beatriz Haddad Maia’s double-bagelling of Ana Konjuh in the previous round. There isn’t much separating the two players but the metronomic aggression in Haddad Maia’s game at the moment is the most reliable force on-court.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Damian:
Beatriz Haddad Maia double-bageled Ana Konjuh in the opening round, while Bianca Andreescu had a weird match against Harmony Tan. The higher upside at the moment is very debatable, but the Brazilian guarantees a solid level that Andreescu doesn’t.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Jim:
This is surely the match of the second round. It would be some statement if Andreescu were able to dig out a win given her recent struggles and Haddad Maia’s successes over the summer. Unfortunately for the Canadian, it looks like a long shot. Stranger things have certainly happened, but Haddad Maia seems the likelier winner and by a considerable margin.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 2
Coco Gauff vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Jack:
Elena-Gabriela Ruse is a great player but she doesn’t have the weaponry to win this one. Coco Gauff is at her home tournament; is in quick conditions that will benefit her serve; is in the form of her life; and is in no mood to mess about judging by her first-round win over Jeanjean.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Damian:
Elena-Gabriela Ruse made a huge upset on Monday, taking out Granby runner-up Daria Saville. This is likely where her road ends as Cori Gauff has been one of the players who almost always get through the early rounds of their events this year.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Jim:
The pressure is on Gauff to perform at the US Open. She still has a very long career ahead of her and is clearly making strides (see her French Open final showing), but playing on home turf brings with it extra expectation. Still, she coped well with that in the first round and though Ruse is a more dangerous opponent, it’s still a very winnable match for Gauff.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
