The US Open begins on Monday with a whopping 32 women’s matches on Day 1 of play. There is a ton of action around the grounds of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, and our writers here at LWOT will share their thoughts on all of the matches with you. We split the 32 matches between eight articles. Our other articles feature Coco Gauff vs Laura Siegemund, Victoria Azarenka vs Fiona Ferro, Sloane Stephens vs Beatriz Haddad Maia, Caroline Wozniacki vs Tatiana Prozorova, Iga Swiatek vs Rebecca Peterson, Elena Rybakina vs Marta Kostyuk, and Maria Sakkari vs Rebeka Masarova. Predicting these matches are Jim Smith, Jordan Reynolds, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will win?
US Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Jasmine Paolini
Jim:
There’s no doubt that Ostapenko is a good enough player to win this match. But that won’t necessarily have a bearing on whether she will win it. Unfortunately, inconsistency has become the watchword for the hard-hitting Latvian. Which makes the steady Jasmine Paolini seem the likelier victor.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
Jordan:
It is a little surprising that Ostapenko has never been past the third round of the final Grand Slam of the year. There is no clear reason why conditions should hamper her so much. This is a testing opener for the Bulgarian. Paolini has played very solid tennis lately, transferring the momentum she had built from post-Wimbledon clay tournaments onto hard courts. I expect this to be tight, but Ostapenko’s firepower to have just enough.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Yesh:
Ostapenko matches are impossible predict, which is what makes them so much fun. The Latvian is a Major winner because she has one of the biggest games in the world. She also isn’t particularly consistent, which makes for some very fun viewing. Paolini’s playing pretty well right now, but this match will entirely turn on whether Ostapenko finds the court enough.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Mayar Sherif vs Lin Zhu
Jim:
It has been a season of highs (including a career-high ranking) and some lows for Mayar Sherif. But the Egyptian, despite a college career playing for Pepperdine, has never had much success during the North American hard-court swing as a professional and is yet to win a match at the US Open. Up against the in-form Zhu Lin, don’t expect that to change this year.
Prediction: Zhu in 2
Jordan:
Zhu will be riding a wave of momentum after a semifinal run in Cleveland before this event. That included a win against Caroline Garcia. The Chinese player is favorite here for another win. Sherif is a very capable player, but is a clay court specialist. I doubt she can live with her opponent on a hard court.
Prediction: Zhu in 2
Yesh:
Perhaps I overestimate them, but I find that NCAA players do better at the US Open. The courts and crowds are similar. And in an even matchup, I think that history gives Sherif the advantage.
Prediction: Sherif in 3
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Anna Karolina Schmiedlova vs Kateryna Baindl
Jim:
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova found some form two weeks ago, reaching the semifinals at a WTA 125k event in Barranquilla. Will she be able to keep that going against Kateryna Baindl? Given the Ukrainian’s indifferent form recently, there’s no real reason why Schmiedlova won’t be able to.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Jordan:
This is a winnable contest for both women on paper. Both have reached the third round in the past, but that was a few years ago. Schmiedlova does have slightly better form after most recently making a semifinal at WTA 125 level. She is a slight favorite, and I expect her to come through.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Yesh:
Schmiedlova is playing pretty well right now. Baindl, unfortuantely, is not. I don’t expect this match to be particularly close.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Danielle Collins vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Jim:
Expect an entertaining clash. Linda Fruhvirtova is probably the more naturally gifted player, but it has been a tough few weeks for the young Czech and she has not won a match since coming through the qualifying in Eastbourne. Danielle Collins, meanwhile, may have been dismissed in the second round in Cincinnati, but she did reach the last eight a week earlier in Montreal.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Jordan:
Watching Collins play some great tennis in Montreal was very nice to see. She has struggled quite a lot since reaching the Australian Open final. Only winning one game against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati the next week was a reminder of how inconsistent she can be. That being said I expect Collins to win this. Fruhvirtova has lost all her matches since Wimbledon, and suddenly rising to beat Collins feels unlikely.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Yesh:
Fruhvirtova is a future star, but her form feels a bit listless right now. That’s not where you want to be against an intense player like Collins, especially on the American’s home surface.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
