Damien Kayat previews five selected matches from the round of 64 at the 2021 US Open.
2021 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Women’s Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre
Selected Round of 64 Matches- 2nd September
Sloane Stephens 39/20 | Coco Gauff 38/100
This blockbuster 2nd round clash could be hard to top at this stage of the draw. I have to admit that I had almost written off Stephens prior to this event. The 2017 US Open Champion seemed to find some of that old-school grit in her opening round match against the dangerous Madison Keys (which was of course a rematch of the 2017 final). The former World number 3 will be hoping to blast Gauff off the court. Gauff showed resilience beyond her years to come back from a set and break down against Magda Linette. Gauff won the Parma title and reached her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal in Paris. It seems as if she is ready to make a statement in her home Grand Slam.
Verdict: Stephens to win. Gauff served a massive eight double faults in her opening match. She also hit a ridiculous 42 unforced errors. I expect Stephens to trouble Gauff with her footwork and rallying skill. Stephens has a strange air of certainty about her at present. Stephens for the upset.
Katerina Siniakova 37/20 | Maria Sakkari 41/100
This has actually been a solid season for 25-year-old Czech Siniakova. She has reached five quarterfinals or better this season (including a quarter in Cleveland last week). But that’s just gravy for Siniakova (she won the French Open and Olympic Gold alongside Barbora Krejcikova in doubles). She beat the plucky Sevatova in the first round and will be tough to beat. Maria Sakkari is one of my pre-tournament dark-horses. She comfortably saw off Kostyuk and already has a Grand Slam semi-final to her name this year. Siniakova surprisingly leads their head-to-head 2-1. Interestingly, all their meetings have come at slams. That’s pretty insane.
Verdict: Sakkari to win in three- I think the Greek will ultimately have too much power for the Czech. But this could prove tricky for Sakkari.
Zhang Shuai | Emma Raducanu (betting tba)
British teen sensation Emma Raducanu showed grit to win her first main-draw match at the US Open. Raducanu, 18, was a break down in both sets but still thrashed Stefanie Vogele 6-2, 6-3. She stunned with that unheralded 4th round wildcard run at Wimbledon. The ever-reliable Zhang Shuai is a former US Open semi-finalist with a proven hardcourt pedigree. She has actually picked up a string of impressive results over the past three months (including a semi-final in Palermo and a quarterfinal in Cleveland last week). Zhang easily won their only match just four weeks back in San Jose.
Verdict: Raducanu to win- I have a feeling that Raducanu’s energy could see her past the industrious Zhang Shuai, despite that San Jose result. She seems to love the big stage.
Ajla Tomljanovic 74/100 | Petra Martic 21/20
28-year-old Aussie Ajla Tomljnaovic looked ready to force her way into the world’s top 30 two years ago. She reached three finals between May 2018 and Feb 2019 (this included two WTA hardcourt final defeats). But since then, she has largely received mixed results. But she somehow managed to reach her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon earlier this year. Petra Martic has been in a steady state of stagnation for the last 18 months (she was ranked 14th in the world in January last year). But her recent form has been awful (she was 3-7 in her last ten matches leading into this year’s US Open).
Verdict: Tomljanovic to win- This may seem strange considering Martic leads Tomljanovic 2-0 in their head-to-head record. I just think the Aussie will be buoyed by her recent Grand Slam success. Martic has also looked slightly dejected in recent times.
Karolina Pliskova 38/100 | Amanda Anisimova 39/20
Pliskova seems to be glowing against the New York skyline this year. The Wimbledon runner-up has conquered some of her demons and is playing with the freedom of someone who people aren’t expecting to win. In that sense, she has benefited from the rise of Barty and Osaka. American Amanda Anisimova looked set for an exceptional career after winning the Copa Colsanitas at the age of just 17. She beat Halep en route to a remarkable semi-final run at the 2019 French Open. But things have really come apart at the seems for Anisimova over the past two years. Could a hometown run reignite her flagging career?
Verdict: Pliskova to win in straight sets- This is a simple one. Pliskova has actually been a player prone to early defeats in recent seasons. But not this time.
