The final major of the year is finally here, and already on the 1st day there are some very intriguing matches taking place on the women’s side. I did predict three matches for today, but unfortunately Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the tournament and I did make a prediction for her match against Daria Gavrilova. Here are my two predictions for today!
Eugenie Bouchard vs Alison Riske
Eugenie Bouchard will be looking to finally pick up some form this year at the US Open, though has a very difficult 1st round match against Alison Riske. Bouchard has been in awful form this year, falling from 5th to 25th in the world and lost in the 1st round at the French Open and Wimbledon this year. There were some signs of improvement in Cincinnati but she then slumped to a dismal loss to Roberta Vinci in New Haven, winning just 1 game. Riske also one just two games in her loss to Caroline Wozniacki, but had a stronger few tournaments before that- she pushed Elina Svitolina to three sets twice and beat players like Carla Suarez Navarro and Timea Bacsinszky. Bouchard has won their past 4 meetings, including a straight sets win in Eastbourne earlier this year, but has struggled for consistency and the crowd will be fully behind Riske in this match. It could be tight, but Riske could edge this match today.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Ana Ivanovic vs Dominika Cibulkova
Ana Ivanovic showed some signs of better form in Cincinnati but doesn’t have the easiest opening match against Dominika Cibulkova, which starts action on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Ivanovic has been in generally poor form this year but pushed Serena Williams in the Cincinnati quarter-finals a few weeks ago. Cibulkova has missed several months due to injury this year and is out of the top 50, but had two tough victories last week in New Haven and then pushed eventual finalist Lucie Safarova to a third set. The head to head is 2-2 with Ivanovic having won the last two times they’ve played, and if she is near her best Cibulkova will probably have little chance later today. However Ivanovic has not been great this year and Cibulkova will have an opportunity if the former world No. 1 is in poor form. It could be tough, though the better form and fitness of Ivanovic should help her win this one.
Prediction: Ivanovic in 2
Also in action
Top seed Serena Williams will be looking to get her quest to complete the Calendar Grand Slam to a good start against Vitalia Diatchenko, whilst former champion and 30th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova has a tough match against Kiki Mladenovic. 29th seed Sloane Stephens has a difficult match against Coco Vandeweghe, whilst other seeds in action include Madison Keys, Agnieszka Radwanska, Belinda Bencic, Venus Williams, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, Ekaterina Makarova, Carla Suarez Navarro and Jelena Jankovic.
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