{"id":9745,"date":"2018-09-03T18:21:42","date_gmt":"2018-09-03T22:21:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=9745"},"modified":"2018-09-03T18:21:42","modified_gmt":"2018-09-03T22:21:42","slug":"panelists-predictions-us-open-day-9-womens-matches-serena-williams-vs-karolina-pliskova-and-sloane-stephens-vs-anastasija-sevastova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2018\/09\/03\/panelists-predictions-us-open-day-9-womens-matches-serena-williams-vs-karolina-pliskova-and-sloane-stephens-vs-anastasija-sevastova\/","title":{"rendered":"Panelists Predictions US Open Day 9 Women\u2019s Matches: Serena Williams vs Karolina Pliskova and Sloane Stephens vs Anastasija Sevastova"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are up to the semifinals of the US Open<\/a>. It’s crunch time for the top players, as the remaining eight battle for their first Slam title of the season. All three Major winners this year (Caroline Wozniacki, Simona Halep, and Angelique Kerber) have been bounced from the tournament. Two of the women playing on Tuesday (Williams and Stephens) have won a Slam before, and Pliskova has reached a final. We’re here to predict both of these matches for you. Predicting for you today are writers Jack Rossiter-Munler, David Adair, Brett Margolies, and Utkarsha Mitra, along with editor and Yesh Ginsburg.<\/p>\n

Panelists Predictions US Open Day 9 Women\u2019s Matches<\/h1>\n

Sloane Stephens vs Anastasija Sevastova<\/h3>\n

Brett:<\/em>
\nSloane Stephens is arguably playing the best out of anyone on the women’s side right now. She looks like a different player that’s really embracing the role of defending champion. She struggled against Sevastova last year at the US Open, but she’s just on another level right now.
\nPrediction: Stephens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Jack:<\/em>
\nSloane Stephens has been playing incredible tennis so far at the US Open. Anastasija Sevastova has scored impressive wins against good players \u2013 Donna Vekic, Ekaterina Makarova, and 7th seed Elina Svitolina \u2013 but she will have no answer for Stephens\u2019 game. The combination of power hitting, effortless movement, and self-belief that earned Stephens her first Grand Slam title at the Open last year will be on full display as she dismantles Sevastova in straight sets.
\nPrediction: Stephens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

David:<\/em>
\nSevastova is in her third US Open quarterfinal in a row, but has never progressed beyond that stage. What a story it would be if the Latvian who once gave up the game to give tennis lessons<\/a> for \u20ac35 an hour were to make the US Open semis. Unfortunately, it won’t happen. Stephens’ performance against Mertens was a victory of mind over matter for her. She played a patient game, not normally her style, and it’s all falling into place for the defending champ.
\nPrediction: Stephens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Utkarsha:<\/em>
\nTheir matchup is the replay of their last year\u2019s US Open quarterfinal which Stephens won 63 36 76(4). This one could be just as good. Stephens has so far looked extremely worthy of being a defending champion. She leads Sevastova 2-1, who will feel confident after a crushing 63 16 60 win over Svitolina.
\nPrediction: Stephens in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Yesh:<\/em>
\nStephens won this matchup last year and has looked better recently. Both players seem somewhat prone to bouts of poor play, so this will come down to who can stay mentally focused better. I’ll trust the defending champion for that.
\nPrediction: Stephens in 3<\/em>
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>