Damien Kayat previews Karolina Muchova vs Taylor Townsend, Belinda Bencic vs Zhu Lin and Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens in selected 3rd-round matches of the US Open Women’s Tennis Championships on the 1st of September 2023.
2023 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Women’s Championships
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York, USA (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected 3rd Round Matches – 1st September
Karolina Muchova 1/5 | Taylor Townsend 34/10
With only one singles title to her name, it’s fair to say that Muchova has been a gross underachiever for some time. But she has returned from her 2022 injury hiatus in grand fashion, reaching her maiden Grand Slam final in Paris before contesting her first WTA 1000 final in Cincinnati (both of which she lost).
Her ability to switch from all-out aggression to cunning guile makes her a unique talent. She trounced Hunter in the first-round before an equally impressive win over Frech in the 2nd. She hit 23 winners against Frech and never faced a break-point in the entire match.
Next up for Muchova will be surprise package Taylor Townsend. The 27-year-old journeywoman delighted a boisterous Court 17 crowd with an upset win over 19th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia. Townsend- who has never reached a WTA Tour final in her career- was impressive throughout, drawing inspiration from the crowd and hitting some truly memorable winners (particularly on the forehand wing).
The lefty has reached two recent Grand Slam double finals and it appears like some of that juju is transferring to her singles play. But can she force enough openings on that Muchova delivery? Muchova may struggle in the early stages in what will be a cauldron-like atmosphere. But I expect her to ultimately prevail due to her supreme variety.
Verdict: Muchova to win in three at 3/1
Belinda Bencic 3/10 | Zhu Lin 24/10
2019 US Open semi-finalist Belinda Bencic is enjoying a quietly impressive season. I have always felt that- given her potential- the reigning Olympic Gold Medallist has often flattered to deceive.
But she started this year in impressive fashion, winning titles in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi. She would reach another final at the Charleston Open before some decent results on the North-American hardcourts (she reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Washington and Montreal).
She has eased through a favourable draw and will be looking to reach the final 16 at a Slam for the 3rd time this year. I think I was wrong to underestimate the resolve of 29-year-old Chinese player Zhu Lin. I thought that Azarenka would simply have too much Grand Slam know-how for the resurgent Chinese baseliner: I was wrong. Lin dispatched of the three-time US Open finalist with minimum fuss to continue her remarkable season.
She reached her maiden Grand Slam 4th round at this year’s Aussie Open before winning her first title at the Hua Hin Championship. She is hitting the ball super cleanly and really imposing herself with that much-improved forehand. And I really think she is playing the type of tennis that could cause Bencic issues.
Bencic tends to frustrate players with her craft and change-ups but Lin isn’t one to lose concentration and attempt glory winners.
Verdict: Lin to win in three sets – 29/10
Coco Gauff 2/13 | Elise Mertens 42/10
Gauff will be happy for that breezy, event-free 2nd round victory over 15-year-old Mirra Andreeva. The time-wasting drama surrounding her first-round win over Laura Siegemund was threatening to overshadow the American’s spellbinding recent from.
Victory over Andreeva took the American to 13 wins in her last 14 matches. That run included triumphs at the Citi Open and Cincinnati Masters. Crucially, she avenged her embarrassing 2022 French Open final defeat with victory over Swiatek in Cincinnati.
I think that victory- even more than the titles- will have given Gauff added hope of reaching her potential this year. For her part, veteran Belgian Elise Mertens overcame significant odds to see off the brutal hitting of American Danielle Collins.
She saved two match-points in the 2nd set before convincingly winning the decider. Collins’ hell for leather approach ultimately wilted in the face of Mertens’ defensive pragmatism. Mertens is a two-time quarterfinalist here who obviously understands how to hang in against more explosive players. Gauff leads the head-to-head 2-0 though this will be their first hardcourt meeting.
I think Mertens’ brand of defensive counterpunching could be tricky for Gauff to negotiate. Mertens just absorbed some bombs from Collins and looks ready to stick around. Perhaps a hard-fought three-set win for Gauff is the sensible play.
The Verdict: Gauff to win in three at 32/10
