The US Open kicks off on Monday, with a whopping 32 women’s first-round matches scheduled for Day 1. As always, we here at LWOT will share our thoughts on all of the matches. We split the 32 matches between eight articles. In addition to this article, our other articles feature Aryna Sabalenka vs Priscilla Hon, Madison Keys vs Katerina Siniakova, Emma Navarro vs Anna Blinkova, Coco Gauff vs Varvara Gracheva, Elina Svitolina vs Maria Lourdes Carle, Victoria Azarenka vs Yuliia Starodubtseva, and Maria Sakkari vs Yafan Wang. Predicting this set of matches are Jordan Reynolds, Tope Oke, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will advance?
US Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Lulu Sun vs Lucia Bronzetti
Jordan:
Sun had a terrific run to her first WTA Tour final in Monterrey heading into the US Open. However, recovering in time for her opening match in New York 36 hours later is a big challenge. Bronzetti has an advantage if she is able to find her game.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 2
Tope:
Lulu Sun may still be bruising and fatigued from her loss to Linda Noskova in the Monterrey final but she should still have enough to get past Lucia Bronzetti, who she defeated in straight sets a fortnight ago.
Prediction: Sun in 2
Yesh:
Sun is playing the best tennis of her career right now. The only thing that can stop her in this match is fatigue. I think she’ll be okay.
Prediction: Sun in 2
Dayana Yastremska vs Jule Niemeier
Jordan:
Yastremska’s season has faltered since her Australian Open semifinal run at the start of the year. Niemeier is also wildly inconsistent, making this a hard match to predict. I will back the Ukrainian’s firepower, but without much confidence.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
Tope:
A match between two players in torrid form will probably be decided by who has the better pedigree on hardcourts. Yastremska reached the Australian Open semifinals in January and will be fired up to get her first win here in 2020 over her German opponent who hasn’t won a match since Wimbledon.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Yesh:
Yastremska is certainly a better player in this matchup. She’s lost her way a bit this season, but she’s still far superior to Niemeier. I don’t expect this to be particularly close.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Taylor Townsend vs Martina Trevisan
Jordan:
Townsend played some of the best tennis of her career in Toronto and Cincinnati heading into the US Open. She starts as the favorite against Trevisan, who prefers playing on clay. The American’s serve is likely to make the biggest difference.
Prediction: Townsend in 2
Tope:
Even though Martina Trevisan defeated Taylor Townsend in their only meeting a year ago, the tables have turned with the American enjoying a wave of good results on North American hard courts. The American will prevail in New York.
Prediction: Townsend in 3
Yesh:
Townsend had struggles with the USTA early in her career, which seemed to have derailed her entire trajectory. Expectations were sky-high. Now that they’ve been tempered, Townsend is finally finding her rhythm. Maybe we’ll get to see her full potential after all.
Prediction: Townsend in 2
Amanda Anisimova vs Qinwen Zheng
Jordan:
Anisimova will be tough for most players in the draw to stop if she reaches the level that took her to the National Bank Open final. But consistency has not been the American’s forte during her career. Zheng’s powerful serve and ability to mix up her game with heavy spin might be enough to disrupt Anisimova and get her through this challenge.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Tope:
Rejuvenated American Amanda Anisimova was within a set of securing her maiden ATP title above the 250 level before losing to Jessica Pegula. She hasn’t played here in two years and Qinwen Zheng is as difficult as they come. However Anisimova beat the likes of Sabalenka, Navarro and Kasatkina enroute the Cincinatti final and there’s no reason she can’t snatch a win especially with the home crowd behind her.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
Yesh:
Anisimova has the talent to be a World #1 someday. A mix of injuries and mental struggles have kept her from that. But a great way to show the world she’s back on track would be to take down the recently-crowned Gold Medalist. And I think she gets it done.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
