The second round of the US Open wraps up on Day 4, and there are 16 high-stakes women’s matches. Who will advance to the third round? This half of the draw is potentially wide open, so we could see anything happen. We split the day’s 16 matches between four articles. In addition to this article, the others feature Iga Swiatek vs Sloane Stephens, Jessica Pegula vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Victoria Azarenka vs Marta Kostyuk. Predicting these matches are Jakub Bobro, Glenys Furness, and Jack Edward.
US Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Marie Bouzkova
Jakub:
An interesting Czech derby here. Pliskova came very close to being eliminated in the opener, pushed all the way to a third-set tiebreak by Magda Linette. Bouzkova also started with a three-setter, beating Linda Noskova for her first US Open main draw in five appearances. This is a tough one to call for me but I will lean toward Pliskova due to the faster courts.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Glenys:
A battle of the Czechs. Both needed three sets to progress to the second round. Pliskova as the seed will be the favorite on paper, but do not discount Bouzkova. This should be a hotly contested and close match.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Jack:
When the draw was released, I was pretty confident in Karolina Pliskova’s chances, convinced she’d overcome her injury from the start of the season to find her form once more. Magda Linette was a tough first-round opponent but the entirely unconvincing nature in which she closed the match has left me skeptical of her chances going forward. Any cracks in her game will be discovered by Marie Bouzkova.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Garbine Muguruza vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Jakub:
After a season of struggle, Muguruza actually looked decent in her win over Clara Tauson in the first round. Now she comes up against 17-year-old qualifier Fruhvirtova, who took out Xinyu wang. The young Czech will provide an interesting challenge but I expect Muguruza to come through.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Glenys:
The Czech is on super form at the moment, having eased through qualifying to hit the first round, where Fruhvirtova then took out her opponent in straight sets. So far the Czech has only dropped on set to get this far. The Spaniard is the ninth seed so again is going to be the favorite on paper. Although Fruhvirtova has progressed easily to this point, it’s going to be tricky to get by the Spaniard
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Jack:
Has Garbine Muguruza found her footing? A win against Clara Tauson in the first-round would certainly suggest so as Muguruza clutched it out in straight sets. It’s difficult to gauge which stage Linda Fruhvirtova is going through in her career but gut instinct tells me she’s not quite ready to make the next step.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Lauren Davis vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Jakub:
Davis is looking to advance past the second round at the US Open for the very first time in her career, making her 10th appearance in New York this year. Alexandrova is looking for her first back-to-back wins since her title run in Den Bosch. This seems an even match-up to me but I will slightly lean towards the American.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Glenys:
When suspended on Tuesday, the match between Stearns and Aleaxandrova was tied at one set each and 3-4 in the third. Davis is already through so will have the advantage of a longer rest time. Alexandrova, though, is too tough an opponent for the American.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Jack:
Ekaterina Alexandrova should have the pace of shot to excel in these conditions but her first-round struggle against Peyton Stearns perhaps suggests she is a little out of sorts. It went three sets with Lauren Davis less than two weeks ago–if Alexandrova isn’t at her best, a similar result wouldn’t be surprising.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Danielle Collins vs Cristina Busca
Jakub:
Collins came out on top in a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka in the Ashe night session and now gets an easier opponent in qualifier Bucsa. The Spaniard was solid throughout qualifying and beat Kaja Juvan but I expect her to lose to Collins.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Glenys:
19th seed Collins took out former winner Osaka in the first round. A result that was on paper always going the way of the American, but the Japanese gave her all trying to move into Round 2. Busca broke my bracket! Taking out Juvan in the first round in straight sets. The Spaniard has only dropped one set so far coming through qualifying and through into the second round.
Prediction: Busca in 2
Jack:
In Danielle Collins’ first hard-court match since being routed by Naomi Osaka 6-2 6-1 in Miami, the American recaptured the world’s attention by defeating the very same opponent in straight sets, reminding everyone how she got to the final of the Australian Open this year. Qualifier Cristina Bucsa should struggle to keep up.
Prediction: Collins in 2
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