The US Open continues as Naomi Osaka faces Karolina Muchova while Victoria Azarenka goes up against Clara Burel in the second round. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 WTA Tour
US Open
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Selected 2nd Round Matches
29 August 2024
Naomi Osaka 79/100 | Karolina Muchova 1/1
Now that was a statement win. Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka never missed a beat in her first US Open appearance since 2022, ‘upsetting’ Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-3. Osaka produced her most well-rounded performance of the season, hitting 19 winners while committing a mere five unforced errors.
It was a vintage display of Osaka’s hardcourt dominance and her first win against a top-ten player in four-and-a-half years. The four-time major champion has had injury issues and well-publicised mental health concerns for some time. She took a hiatus during her pregnancy last year and has spent much of 2024 trying to get back to optimum fitness levels.
She had some decent results in the early part of the season, reaching the quarterfinals in Qatar and the round of 16 in Rome. She almost shocked Iga Swiatek with a devastating performance at Roland Garros. But she has fallen off significantly of late, bowing out to Ashlyn Krueger at the recent Cincinnati Open.
But she obviously feels comfortable in this arena (that win over Ostapenko improved her overall Flushing Meadows record to 23-5).
28-year-old Czech Karolina Muchova produced a ‘Shot of the Year’ candidate in her first-round win over Katie Volynets, producing a no-look, behind-the-back lob to the exhilaration of the New York faithful. Overall, Muchova will feel fairly pleased with that straight-sets win.
The Czech established herself as a real force in Grand Slam tennis last season, finishing runner-up at the French Open before reaching the semifinals here (she also reached the 2021 Aussie Open semis).
But her performance in New York came at a cost: she suffered a wrist injury that would later require surgery, forcing her to miss the first half of this season. But there have been signs of encouragement for Muchova since returning to tour.
She finished runner-up in Palermo and she pushed an in-form Pegula to three sets in their Cincinnati match. Muchova is an aggressive shot-maker who can mix things up with wonderful variety. She is the real deal, and this match has the potential to be a classic.
The Verdict: Muchova to win in three at 38/10-
These two share the head-to-head spoils at one win apiece. Having said that, this will be their first meeting in over three years. Osaka will obviously feel emboldened by her performance against Ostapenko.
But Muchova is an entirely different animal. She has much more variety than Ostapenko and will throw in plenty of drop-shots to test Osaka’s movement.
Her sliced backhand will also help mix up the tempo of rallies. Osaka should get some assistance from the crowd but I ultimately think that Muchova’s variety will see her prevail in three.
Victoria Azarenka 23/100 | Clara Burel 3/1
Victoria Azarenka really struggled on serve in her first-round match against lowly Yulia Starodubtsewa, coughing up ten double-faults to make heavy weather of a kind draw.
But she did come back well after losing the first set and she will feel a bit more in the swing of things now. The win improved her 2024 record to a solid 30-13. She has enjoyed some notable hardcourt success this season, reaching the semifinals in Miami and Brisbane.
She reached the quarters in Washington and then withdrew from her round of 16 matches in Toronto (where she was admittedly trailing Peyton Stearns). She pulled out of Cincinnati in preparation for this and I’m sure she would have liked a slightly smoother start to her tournament.
That being said, Azarenka is a true Flushing Meadows specialist, finishing runner-up here on three occasions (most recently in 2020). Azarenka has the ability to bring her A-game to top-tier events and she could be a dangerous dark horse this fortnight.
Clara Burel just produced a stunning comeback against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, coming back from being bageled in the first to win in three sets.
It was a morale-boosting victory that improved the Frenchwoman’s humdrum 2024 record to 18-20. Burel has had her moments this season, reaching the quarterfinals in Linz, Strasbourg and Cleveland (where she lost to top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia).
The Cleveland result actually came last week (indicating a semblance of form). Burel has actually given a good account of herself in her recent hardcourt slams, reaching the third round here last season before a 3rd round run at this year’s Aussie Open. She is a real fighter who will look to pounce on any Azarenka serving yips.
The Verdict: Azarenka to win in straight sets 63/100
Azarenka won their only previous meeting in straight sets at this year’s Brisbane International. This should be a simple assignment for Azarenka.
I just can’t see her serving as poorly again. Burel really focused on Stephens’ weak backhand side in her comeback win but she won’t have that luxury against Azarenka (who has a sensational double-handed backhand).
