2nd round action begins today, with many surprise matches on the women’s side after several seeds fell on Monday- here are three of my predictions for today!
Serena Williams vs Kiki Bertens
Serena Williams continues her campaign for the calendar grand slam and a 4th consecutive US Open title against Dutch Qualifier Kiki Bertens in the day session on Arthur Ashe stadium. Williams benefited from the retirement of Vitalia Diatchenko in the 1st round, but had won all the eight games that had been played and had just conceded five points against her Russian opponent before the premature end of the match. Bertens has had to work considerably harder, coming through qualifying before coming from a set down against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the 1st round. The two have never played before, but this match should be no problem to Serena in the form she has been in this year. She’ll only be n danger of losing if she is nervous or starts slowly- that seems extremely unlikely
Prediction: Williams in 2
Lauren Davis vs Ekaterina Makarova
13th seed Ekaterina Makarova may not have the easiest 2nd round match as she faces the young American Lauren Davis on Court 17. Makarova has had injury problems running into the final major of the year, but eased past Teliana Pereira for the loss of just 6 games on monday. Davis also won in straight sets, but had to win with two tiebreaks against Heather Watson. Makarova has great experience and more career success than Davis, and the Russian should also be helped by the fact that she is nine inches taller than her 5’2 opponent. The 13th seed should come through this match, though it could be tough if she is affected by her recent injury or if Davis can put up as much as a fight she did in the 1st round.
Prediction: Makarova in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Kaia Kanepi
Many people are now predicting 17th seed Elina Svitolina to make the semi-finals here, though she doesn’t have the easiest 2nd round match against Kaia Kanepi on Court 7. Svitolina has had a very good year so far, and she continued that with a comfortable win over Elizaveta Kulichkova on monday. Kanepi, a former top 20 player, has been injured in the past few months and has dropped down to 89th in the world, though she was on good form on Monday as she cruised past Anna-Lena Friedsam for the loss of just 2 games. The Estonian has played well at slams in the past, reaching 5 grand slam quarter-finals, and is certainly a potentially dangerous player in tournament she reached the last 16 at a year ago. However Svitolina has much more match practice and has had a very strong year; she should win this one.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Also in action
19th seed Madison Keys starts action on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Tereza Smitkova, whilst 23rd seed Venus Williams faces fellow American Irina Falconi in the night session on Ashe. Other players in action include Agnieszka Radwanska, Belinda Bencic, Eugenie Bouchard and Dominika Cibulkova.
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