US Open 2024: Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (23) Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, U.S.
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS | India - Sony Network
Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova preview
23rd seed Leylah Fernandez is slated to open her 2024 US Open campaign against the tricky Anastasia Potapova in a first-round clash on Tuesday, August 27.
Fernandez heads into New York with a 22-18 match record for the year. She had a relatively slow start to the season, with her best result being a run to the quarterfinals in Qatar. Her grass court season was impressive as she reached the quarterfinals in Birmingham and the final in Eastbourne, where she was defeated in straight sets by sixth seed Daria Kasatkina.
Fernandez began her American hard court swing at her home tournament, the National Bank Open. She then impressed in Cincinnati the following week, defeating Elena Rybakina and Diana Shnaider before falling to Jessica Pegula in a three-set epic in the quarterfinals. Seeded second in Cleveland last week, she was unexpectedly knocked out in her opening match by Ana Bogdan.
Potapova heads into the US Open with a 23-19 match record for the season. She started the year well, reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane and Linz. At Indian Wells, she advanced to the quarterfinals but was defeated by Marta Kostyuk. Her clay court season was relatively quiet, though she ended it on a high note with a fourth-round run at the French Open, where she lost to top seed and eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
Potapova began her grass court swing impressively by reaching the semifinals in Birmingham. She was, however, knocked out in the first round at both Eastbourne and Wimbledon. She started her American hard court swing with a few disappointing early exits but concluded it strongly with a semifinal appearance in Cleveland, where she lost to the eventual champion, Mccartney Kessler.
Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova head-to-head
Leylah Fernandez leads Anastasia Potapova 4-0 in their head-to-head. They last played in Strasbourg earlier this year with Fernandez coming back from a set down to claim the win.
Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova prediction
Both Leylah Fernandez and Anastasia Potapova head into their opening match at the US Open on the back of some good form.
Fernandez came to life on the American hard courts and impressed everyone with her performance in Cincinnati. Although she has often struggled to close out matches in singles, her recent success in doubles suggests otherwise. She will be eager to transfer her match-closing skills from doubles to singles.
Potapova has struggled with consistency throughout this year, but her run to the semifinals in Cleveland last week delivered much promise heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. Her hard court skills have always been renowned and have come to the fore once again.
Fernandez enters this match as the favorite, but Potapova should not be discounted as a potential surprise. The outcome may ultimately depend on who handles the crucial points better and performs well on returns. Given that both players prefer to play deep and dictate from the baseline, keeping points short and attacking the net will be crucial.
Pick: Fernandez in straight sets.