{"id":72777,"date":"2024-08-29T16:47:03","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T20:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=72777"},"modified":"2024-08-29T16:47:03","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T20:47:03","slug":"us-open-day-5-womens-predictions-sabalenka-alexandrova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2024\/08\/29\/us-open-day-5-womens-predictions-sabalenka-alexandrova\/","title":{"rendered":"US Open Day 5 Women’s Predictions Including Aryna Sabalenka vs Ekaterina Alexandrova"},"content":{"rendered":"

The third round starts on Friday, Day 5 at the 2024 US Open. Eight exciting matches means eight women will find themselves moving on to the second week. But which women will it be? As always, our writers share their thoughts on all the matches. We split the eight matches between this and a second article, featuring Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina<\/a>. Predicting these matches are Jordan Reynolds, Glenys Furness, and Ilemona Onekutu. Who do you think will win?<\/p>\n

US Open Day 5 Women’s Predictions<\/h2>\n

Madison Keys vs Elise Mertens<\/h4>\n

Jordan:<\/em>
\nMertens is adept at mixing up the pace of shots, something that Keys sometimes struggles against. However, I am not sure the Belgian will be able to hold serve regularly enough to cause an upset. She needs a very high first serve percentage to have a chance.
\nPrediction: Keys in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Glenys:<\/em>
\nMadison Keys has eased through to the third round. The American is playing well, especially as she had to withdraw from the Canadian Open with an injury. Keys appears to have recovered well and dominated the second sets of each of the previous matches. Elise Mertens second round match was a great build up to this match up. This will be a great match, but home support should see Keys through.
\nPrediction: Keys in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Ilemona:<\/em>
\nElise Mertens registered her first victory in the series when the pair met in Cincinnati last year. Keys was the favorite then as she would be here. Her form and the weariness from that loss should give her the motivation to advance.
\nPrediction: Keys in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

[tgdcta items=”1″ id=”170460″]<\/p>\n

Paula Badosa vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse<\/h4>\n

Jordan:<\/em>
\nRuse shocked Barbora Krejcikova in the last round. But her playing style does not match well against Badosa. The Spaniard is capable of managing heavy topspin forehands, which is Ruse\u2019s biggest weapon.
\nPrediction: Badosa in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Glenys:<\/em>
\nPaula Badosa had an easy path to the third round, with both matches being straight sets. Taylor Townsend put up a fight, though, which should help Badosa here. Ruse has plenty of matches under her belt, having come through qualifying. The Romanian took out the eighth seed in the last round. As a qualifier Ruse is dangerous, but could also suffer from \u201cseed bounce.\u201d Tricky match to call but Ruse could pull another surprise.
\nPrediction: Ruse in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Ilemona:<\/em>
\nElena-Gabriela Ruse has shown that she can cause significant upsets when she defeated the reigning Wimbledon champion<\/a> in the second round. Ruse won the only match she has played against Badosa as an underdog in Dubai two years ago. The level of self belief it will take for her to cause another upset isn\u2019t that far fetched. She has the game to go with it as well.
\nPrediction: Ruse in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>