Damien Kayat previews Caroline Wozniacki vs Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sofia Kenin vs Daria Kasatkina in selected 2nd-Round matches of the US Open Women’s Championships on the 31st of August 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 2nd Round Matches- 31st August
Caroline Wozniacki 19/10 | Petra Kvitova 2/5
This looks sets to be a blockbuster renewal of hostilities between two familiar foes. Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki shocked the tennis world with her decision to return to the big leagues after retirement.
The Dane struggled in Montreal and Cincinnati but she seemed quite comfortable in her first Grand Slam match since the 2020 Aussie Open, easily dispatching of qualifier Tatiana Prozorova.
Having said that, the two-time US Open finalist did commit a slew of unforced errors and will need to tighten that up. Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova won her biggest title in five years at this season’s Miami Open. That has added substantial gloss to an otherwise ordinary campaign.
But the big-serving lefty has a penchant for playing her best tennis in slams and form can sometimes prove irrelevant for the Czech. She saw off a spirited challenge from Cristina Busca, hitting 34 winners against only 18 unforced errors.
Kvitova has shaded their head-to-head rivalry 8-6, with her more aggressive approach giving her the slight edge over Wozniacki’s counterpunching style. And I think it would be foolish to think that Wozniacki would come out of the cold and diffuse the big-serving Czech so early in her comeback.
Verdict: Kvitova to win in straight-sets
Elina Svitolina 7/20 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 11/5
Elina Svitolina has without doubt been the most successful of the current raft of comeback stars on the women’s tour. She has been exceptional this season, winning a title in Strasbourg and playing some elite Grand Slam tennis.
She defied expectations with a quarterfinal run in Paris before upping the ante with a semi-final run at Wimbledon. One thing I have noticed is that she appears far more aggressive this year, stepping inside the court more often to punish half-court balls. She reached the semi-finals here in 2019 and she just annihilated poor Anna-Lena Friedsam.
Next up for Svitolina is a player who has dealt with a series of injury issues over the past few years: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 2021 French Open finalist has struggled to remain fit but she does possess an extremely impressive Grand Slam resume.
The Russian has reached the quarterfinal stage of a Slam on eight occasions (including at this year’s French Open). She reached the quarters here way back in 2011 and reached the final 16 when she last played in 2021. She just eased past Crawley in her first-round match and she won’t be overawed: she has a positive 3-2 head-to-head advantage over the Ukrainian.
I think Svitolina is going to encounter stiff opposition here. The Russian is an accomplished counterpuncher who isn’t going to senselessly look for winners. But I still think Svitolina’s new-found aggression will prove decisive.
Verdict: Svitolina to win in three sets
Sofia Kenin 2/1 | Daria Kasatkina 28/100
Sofia Kenin’s hard-fought victory over Ana Bogdan was the latest sign that the 24-year-old American could be returning to something resembling her best tennis. Kenin shocked the world in 2020, winning the Australian Open before losing to Swiatek in the final of the French.
But inconsistent form and injuries have seen the versatile American plummet down the world rankings. Currently ranked 101st in the world, Kenin seemed to hint at improvements with a spirited 3rd round run at Wimbledon. Next up she will look to take down the ultra-consistent Daria Kasatkina.
The Russian has enjoyed a steady season that has seen her reach WTA 500 finals in Adelaide and Eastbourne. She was 5-2 in the recent WTA 1000 events and she is just an all-round consistent competitor. Though her preferred surface is clay, 10 of her 13 career finals have come on hardcourts.
That included a memorable run to the Indian Wells final in 2018. Kenin leads their head-to-head rivalry 2-1 but it was Kasatkina who emerged victorious when they last met in the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic. All the true indicators of success point towards a Kasatkina win. But I just have a feeling that Kenin may be about to turn a corner in her career.
Verdict: Kenin to win in three sets
