Predicted Winners in BOLD: An Incredible Slate of Openning Matches
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM (11 a.m. start)
[3] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs Varvara Lepchenko (USA) – Muguruza is my pick to win this match. She was impressive in winning Cincinnati so there is no fear of a 55 week gap after winning a major title for the next big trophy. Still, major champions sometimes underperform at their next major.
[9] Venus Williams (USA) vs [Q] Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) – Venus is 14 sets away from an 8th major title. She won 12 sets in Melbourne and London so this is not an impossible dream.
[2] Simona Halep (ROU) vs [WC] Maria Sharapova (RUS) – Halep has been quite consistent in 2017. She also took stinging losses at Roland Garros and Cincinnati. She is rewarded with a former world #1 and former US Open champion who also beat Halep in her first major final. Anything can happen, but I think on form one has to favor Halep.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM
[13] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB) – Kvitova is one of my favorite players. Double J is not. Still, I think this sets up well for the former US Open runner-up. If Kvitova is on and has no breathing issues, Kvitova wins. I just think JJ can find a way into the match and illicit enough errors to pull the upset.
Roberta Vinci (ITA) vs [PR] Sloane Stephens (USA) – The former US Open runner-up versus a player seeking a comeback from an injury. I think youth is rewarded.
GRANDSTAND
[7] Johanna Konta (GBR) vs Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) – Don’t sleep on this match.
[5] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs [Q] Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) – Wozniacki’s consistency in 2017 bodes well for her US Open showing.
COURT 17
[32] Lauren Davis (USA) vs [WC] Sofia Kenin (USA)
[11] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs Jana Cepelova (SVK) – A Slovakian Civil War?
COURT 5
Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) vs Misa Eguchi (JPN)
Saisai Zheng (CHN) vs. Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL)
COURT 10
[Q] Claire Liu (USA) vs. Ying-Ying Duan (CHN)
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) vs.Oceane Dodin (FRA)
COURT 13
Mona Barthel (GER) vs. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) – Makarova is usually good for some wins, but this is not an easy match.
[22] Shuai Peng (CHN) vs. [WC] Amandine Hesse (FRA)
COURT 4
Heather Watson (GBR) vs. Alizé Cornet (FRA) – This is a tough match to pick, but I think Cornet is cagey enough to find a way.
[16] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Carina Witthoeft (GER)
COURT 6
Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) vs [Q] Sachia Vickery (USA)
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) vs. Julia Boserup (USA)
COURT 7
[18] Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs. [Q] Tereza Martincova (CZE)
[21] Ana Konjuh (CRO) vs. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) – Ticket holders should find this match and find a good seat.
COURT 8
[Q] Richel Hogenkamp (NED) vs. [WC] Arina Rodionova (AUS)
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) vs. Timea Babos (HUN)
COURT 9
[31] Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA)
[24] Kiki Bertens (NED) vs. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
COURT 11
[PR] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) vs. Johanna Larsson (SWE)
[29] Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs. Monica Puig (PUR) – Puig could win this match, but I have not seen her win much since Rio and her gold medal.
COURT 12
[30] Julia Goerges (GER) vs Annika Beck (GER)
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) vs [Q] Ipek Soylu (TUR)
COURT 14
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) vs. [Q] Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) – I am normally bullish on Romanians.
Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA)
COURT 15
Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) vs [Q] Anna Zaja (GER)
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 