The women’s quarterfinals start on Day 9 of the US Open. We get the first two of the four matches, including Coco Gauff taking on Iga Swiatek conqueror Jelena Ostapenko. Who will advance to Thursday’s semifinals? Our writers share their thoughts on both matches for you. Predicting these matches are Shane Black, Jordan Reynolds, Damian Kust, Jack Edward, and Yesh Ginsburg. What do you think will happen?
US Open Day 9 Women’s Predictions
Sorana Cirstea vs Karolina MuchovaShane:
Cirstea has played terrific tennis in New York to reach her second Slam quarterfinal. She is peaking at the right time and has shown incredible composure in tense moments. Muchova has been terrific all summer and is currently No. 7 in the live WTA Race. She strikes the ball well off both wings and will look to overwhelm Cirstea from the baseline. I expect her to find winners when she needs them.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Jordan:
Is this Cirstea’s time to reach a first Grand Slam semifinal? She will go down swinging regardless against Muchova, since her aggressive style has gotten her this far. Muchova does have a more complete overall game, but Cirstea’s power could make it hard to use that advantage. However, in the end I think Muchova’s experience and variety will just about take it.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Damian:
Cirstea has already had a few of these amazing results on hard courts this year, playing particularly well here and at the Sunshine Double. She’s always out there and looking for a potential opportunity. Now she gets to play Muchova for the fourth time this year, having beaten her in Miami but lost to her in Dubai and in Toronto. The Czech has such a wide repertoire and can produce some very smart tennis. She’ll need that here.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Jack:
Sorana Cirstea’s appearance in the quarterfinals is obviously a surprise but she’s always had the game to put together consecutive big wins. The Romanian’s game is extremely polished, there’s plenty of quality to her underrated ball-striking and she absolutely could pose a threat to Karolina Muchova.
Muchova’s base level is so high and so reliable, however–it feels like it takes something extra special to knock her off her rhythm. I’m not dismissing Cirstea’s level but we’ve no reason to doubt the Czech in her sixth quarterfinal of the year.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Yesh:
Muchova has been on a stage like this before. Cirstea, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, hasn’t. It looked like the talent was there, but she never put it on together. Muchova, meanwhile, hits the ball clean and forcefully, and work anyone around the court. Cirstea has a similar skillset but isn’t as powerful or as consistent. That’s not a great recipe in this matchup.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
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Coco Gauff vs Jelena Ostapenko
Shane:
Ostapenko comes into this match off a win over No. 1 Iga Swiatek. She smashed 31 winners by Swiatek, proving why she is one of the biggest hitters on tour. Coco Gauff has tremendous backing every time she plays in New York and has ridden that crowd support in three three-set victories last week. Ostapneko will pressure Gauff from the first ball, and frankly, I do not see the American responding well. Ostapenko will overwhelm Gauff and power her way into the semis.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Jordan:
There will be a lot of huge hitting in this contest. Ostapenko is certainly not going to deviate from her ultra aggressive style that toppled Swiatek. I think there are two differences that give Gauff the win: her second serve is less attackable than Swiatek’s, and she has shown since Washington her ability to deal with hard and flat shots. An upset is not out of the question if Ostapenko plays as she did in the last round, but Gauff gets the edge here.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Damian:
Ostapenko is coming off a huge win over Swiatek, completely overwhelming her in the last ten games or so. This is also a manageable matchup for her and she proved that at the Australian Open this year. It’s also fairly similar to her rivalry against the Pole with the ability to hit flat and hard to the forehand plus crush second serve returns being key. Gauff is so confident at the moment though and you never know what you’re going to get from Ostapenko. Could be fireworks again.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Jack:
Another decider for Jelena Ostapenko? There’s no doubt that all of the Latvian’s matches have involved the usual peaks and troughs. There’s a good reason she’s put seven wins in a row together once in her career with her huge game—she’s just too mercurial to keep doing it day in, day out.
Coco Gauff will likely be able to survive the peaks with her great defensive game and can capitalise when the errors start flowing. An Ostapenko win is obviously possible (as it is against any player in the world) but it feels like Gauff will bring sturdy enough quality in defence to stave off any danger.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Yesh:
Iga Swiatek is a matchup nightmare for Coco Gauff. Ostapenko is a matchup nightmare for everyone, but only on days when she can find the court. I think that Gauff can do enough to frustrate Ostapenko’s game and rhythm that the Latvian won’t be able to find the court as consistently as she did against Swiatek.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
