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2021 US Open – selected women’s 3rd round fixtures preview

Damien Kayat previews five ties from the Women’s draw at the 2021 US Open third round.

Iga Swiatek - Indian Wells Masters
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

We preview five selected ties from the third round of the 2021 US Open women's draw.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

2021 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
Women’s US Open Tennis
UTSA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre 
Selected 3rd Round Matches

Sloane Stephens 5/4 | Angelique Kerber 62/100

Where has this Sloane Stephens been? The 2017 US Open champ and 2018 French Open finalist was in devastating form against WTA Tour ‘belle of the ball’ Coco Gauff. She landed a staggering 84% of her first-serves, winning 80% of those points. Her athleticism and ability to retrieve Gauff’s groundstrokes stand her in good stead in the unpredictable women’s draw. 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber’s season only really burst into life on the grass. She won in Bad Homburg before yet another semi-final showing at her beloved Wimbledon. She also reached the semi-finals in Cincinnati during the US Open Series. But this hasn’t exactly been the happiest hunting ground for Kerber of late: she is aiming to make it to the 4th round here for just the 2nd time in her last five appearances.

Verdict: Stephens to win in straight sets at 26/10– I know this seemed slightly bold given Stephens’ utter unpredictability. I just have a feeling about her this year (much like Azarenka during last year’s US Open). She seems to have the pace of the surface down pat. Furthermore, Stephens holds an imposing 5-1 career head-to-head record against Kerber.

Aryna Sabalenka 46/100 | Danielle Collins 33/20 

Sabalenka is in the midst of a career-best season (she reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final and has a couple of titles to her name this year). The powerful Belarusian carried this form over into the North-American hardcourt season, reaching the final four in Montreal. But she has occasionally failed to realize her massive potential on the biggest stages. Here she takes on the red-hot American Danielle Collins. Collins arrives in New York in supreme confidence, with titles in Palermo and San Jose showcasing her growing authority. The 2019 Aussie Open semi-finalist could be primed for another deep Grand Slam push.

Verdict: Collins to win at 33/20– Yes, I know that Sabalenka has the 2-0 head-to-head record. Collins is just striking the ball beautifully at present: she hit 26 winners to 16 unforced errors against Juvan last time out. Sabalenka can also be an error machine, hitting a nearly unbelievable 21 errors in her 2nd set against Stojanovic.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone
Iga Swiatek 83/100 | Anett Kontaveit 19/20

2020 French Open Champion Iga Swiatek just hasn’t looked too comfortable this week. I think that she has been surprised by the slowness of the courts, dropping a set against Ferro last time out. But Swiatek already has a hardcourt title to her name this year (in Adelaide). She is also developing a strong Grand Slam rep (her Slam record this year reads 12-3). Kontaveit- by contrast- has looked right at home on this surface. She absolutely dominated Stosur and Teichmann. She is fresh off a brilliant victory in Cleveland and is one of the in-form players at present.

Verdict: Kontaveit to win at 19/20– Kontaveit leads the head-to-head 2-1. Swiatek- a modern queen of clay- won their match at Roland Garros this year. But I just think that the Estonian has the courtcraft to outlast Swiatek and exact some Grand Slam revenge this week.


Petra Kvitova 9/10 | Maria Sakkari 87/100

This looks like it could be a highlight amongst the 3rd round ties. Kvitova is fresh off a serving masterclass against fellow Czech Kristyna Pliskova. She won 80% of her first-serve points and fired down nine aces. Kvitova generally plays her best tennis when that serve is operating in tiptop condition. Sakkari- one of my dark-horses for this year’s title- has looked imperious thus far. Straight sets victories against Kostyuk and Siniakova have helped offset a fairly underwhelming US Open lead-in.

Verdict: Sakkari to win at 87/100– I have to follow my gut this week, despite Kvitova’s dominant serve. Kvitova leads the head-to-head 3-2, winning their last two matches. But I think that Sakkari could feed off the positive energy of her semi-final run in Paris earlier this year. Plus, it doesn’t take too much for Kvitova’s serve to wobble (she is known to have massive fluctuations in form between matches).

Ashleigh Barty 1/12 | Shelby Rogers 13/2

This could prove to be a tricky tie for reigning World Number One Ash Barty. She hasn’t really found her range this week despite picking up two straight-sets victories. Her 2nd round victory against Tauson was a grind. Just as she did against Zvonareva, Barty faltered when trying to serve out the match. Shelby Rogers has moved into the 3rd round of the US Open for the 4th time in her career. Rogers was a surprise package post-lockdown last year, reaching the semi-finals of the Top Seed Open before a brilliant quarterfinal run at the US Open. She continued that decent Grand Slam pedigree with a strong 4th round showing in Melbourne earlier this season. She is a potent hardcourt player who could surprise Barty with her power.

Verdict: Barty to win in three sets at 36/10– I think there may be some value in playing Barty to win in three. Barty actually leads Rogers 5-0 in their head-to-head record. That incredibly includes four victories this year. However, two of those 2021 matches went to a decider. Barty does have a penchant for losing concentration during this mid-period of a Slam.

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