We witnessed a day full of surprises yesterday at the US Open with the elimination of three seeded players who were expected to go far this year: Carlos Alcaraz (3), Hubert Hurkacz (7), and Sebastian Korda (16). But as the Americans say, "The show must go on!"
Day 5 at a Grand Slam usually means the start of the third round, the stage of the tournament where seeded players meet for the first time. This sets the stage for several very exciting matchups!
12 PM EST - Elina Svitolina vs. Coco Gauff
It’s no secret that Coco Gauff is having a very tough summer season. After early exits in Montreal and Cincinnati, where she had a lot of points to defend, she arrived in New York as the defending champion. If she fails to defend the 2000 points she earned last year, she will drop in the rankings.
The task ahead is monumental due to her recent performances and the strong competition she faces. However, the American gave us a glimmer of hope with two dominant performances against Gracheva and Maria in the first two rounds. But Elina Svitolina represents a significant step up.
The Ukrainian is having a good season with a fourth-round appearance at Roland Garros and a quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Known as one of the best defensive players on the circuit, Svitolina could frustrate Gauff and force her into making unforced errors, as she did in the first two rounds.
I expect a high-level and tight match that will go to three sets, but considering the few matches and confidence Gauff has brought into the US Open, I lean slightly towards Svitolina.
Prediction: Elina Svitolina in 3 sets
12 PM EST - Emma Navarro vs. Marta Kostyuk
Emma Navarro is currently enjoying her best season to date, as evidenced by her status as the 12th seed at the US Open. She has all the tools to go far in a Grand Slam. On the other side of the net, her opponent Marta Kostyuk is also having the best season of her career. The Ukrainian has powerful shots and defends very well.
However, Kostyuk has faced some difficulties since her title in Stuttgart several months ago. Although she has won several matches, she falls short every time she faces a higher-level player, as evidenced by her losses to Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, Donna Vekic, Emma Navarro, and Iga Swiatek.
The two players met in Toronto three weeks ago, a match won by the American in two identical sets of 7-5. Kostyuk had missed a set point on her serve in the first set.
Once again, I expect a tight match, but I believe Navarro will navigate the important points better.
Prediction: Emma Navarro in 3 sets
1 PM EST - Ben Shelton vs. Frances Tiafoe
One of the most anticipated matches at the US Open since the draw was released. A duel between two of the most electrifying and exciting players to watch, across all circuits. A showdown between two Americans on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court at the US Open, what more could you ask for? Probably a night session match, which surprisingly isn’t the case here.
This is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal, where Shelton defeated Tiafoe in four sets before falling to the eventual champion, Novak Djokovic. Ben Shelton currently leads the head-to-head 2-0. In addition to his victory at the US Open last year, he also defeated Tiafoe in three sets on the clay courts of Houston earlier this year.
This match is very difficult to predict, as both players have explosive serves and forehands but can also experience slumps where their shots land several meters out. Tiafoe’s performances so far have impressed me a bit more than Shelton’s; he also reached the final in Cincinnati, and everything seems to be clicking for him at the moment.
Prediction: Frances Tiafoe in 4 sets
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