US Open 2024 Day 4: Women's singles predictions ft. Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Pliskova, Mirra Andreeva vs Ashlyn Krueger
The second-round action continues on Day 4 of the US Open 2024 on Thursday, August 29. More seeds continued to tumble out on Wednesday, with reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova being the biggest casualty. She went down 6-4, 7-5 against Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Title favorite Aryna Sabalenka needed a little over an hour to beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-1 and move into the third round. Coco Gauff's title defense continued with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Tatjana Maria. Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen staged another comeback to beat Erika Andreeva in the second round.
More players will aim to join them in the third round on Thursday. On that note, here's a look at the predictions for some of the matches lined up on Day 4 of the US Open:
#1 - Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Pliskova
Paolini locked horns with Bianca Andreescu for the third consecutive Major this season, and came out on top yet again. She survived a tough challenge from the former US Open champion to win the match 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.
Pliskova overcame a terrible performance in the second set to beat Mayar Sherif 6-3, 0-6, 7-5 in her opener. This marked the first win at the Majors this year, and only her second in the last seven.
While Pliskova is a former runner-up in New York, going down to Angelique Kerber in the 2016 final, she's far from her best these days. She had a resurgence at the start of the season where she won the Transylvania Open but has since regressed.
Paolini, meanwhile, has reached two Major finals, another Major final in doubles, and won the Olympic gold in doubles as well. Given her current form, Pliskova is unlikely to pose a significant threat to the Italian.
Predicted winner: Jasmine Paolini
#2 - Sara Errani vs Caroline Dolehide
Dolehide rallied from a set down to beat Danielle Collins 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round, and brought an end to the latter's Grand Slam career as well. It also marked her maiden win in singles at the US Open.
Errani staged a comeback in her opener as well as she staged a swift turnaround to defeat Cristina Bucsa 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. She scored her first singles win in New York since 2015. The Italian is a former semifinalist at the venue, and reached the last four here in 2012.
While Errani is flourishing in doubles, her results in singles are quite modest. Dolehide isn't a consistent force in singles just yet, so this match is evenly balanced to an extent. However, the American's level and tactics were quite impressive against Collins, and if she's able to replicate that, then she will be favored to win this match as well.
Predicted winner: Caroline Dolehide
#3 - Mirra Andreeva vs Ashlyn Krueger
Andreeva secured a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Camila Osorio to begin her US Open campaign. Krueger, meanwhile, beat Zhang Shuai 0-6, 6-1, 7-5 to hand the latter her 23rd consecutive loss, the longest streak in the Open Era.
Andreeva reached her maiden Major semifinal at the French Open. However, she suffered a letdown at Wimbledon, where she crashed out in the first round. Krueger's win over Zhang was her first at a Major, having bowed out in the first round on all six occasions prior to that.
The Russian teen's tennis acumen and court craft could prove to be too much for Krueger to handle, who's yet to impress at the Major level. Andreeva, on the other hand, has made quite a splash at the Slams. Her results tip the scales in her favor in this encounter.
Predicted winner: Mirra Andreeva
#4 Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Haddad Maia overcame a one-set deficit to beat Elina Avanesyan 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the first round. Sorries Tormo, meanwhile, cruised to a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Alexa Noel.
Haddad Maia and Sorribes Tormo are familiar rivals, having played against each other six times thus far. The former leads the latter 4-2 in the head-to-head, and won their most recent encounter at this year's United Cup in straight sets.
The two are often known to get involved in lengthy slugfests, and three of their previous six matches have gone the distance. Haddad Maia reached the final in Cleveland before the US Open, and seems to have some momentum on her side after a rough few weeks.
However, the Brazilian has never been beyond the second round of the US Open. Sorribes Tormo has been even more inconsistent than her, so this seems like Haddad Maia's best chance to reach the third round here for the first time.
Predicted winner: Beatriz Haddad Maia