Arriving as a top-ten player at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, Amanda Anisimova put on a masterclass in her first-round clash, demolishing Aussie Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2.
2025 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York City (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected 2nd Round Matches- 28th August
Amanda Anisimova (8) 0.3 vs Maya Joint 2.45
Arriving as a top-ten player at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, Amanda Anisimova put on a masterclass in her first-round clash, demolishing Aussie Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2. Anisimova was particularly dominant on serve, winning 87% of her first-serve points. She ended the match with 16 winners and will be looking to reach the 3rd round of the US Open for just the 2nd time in her career. Anisimova has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, winning a maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai before reaching her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. But that fairytale Wimbledon run ended in nightmarish fashion, with Swiatek dishing out a dreaded double-bagel in a humiliating final. She wasn’t at her best during the US Open precursors and will be hoping to eradicate any lingering memory of that terrible day at SW19. Next up for Anisimova is up-and-coming Aussie Maya Joint. Joint looked less composed in her New York opener, grinding out a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva. The 19-year-old has shown real progression this season, winning her first two WTA Tour titles in Rabat and Eastbourne. She also flirted with some strong results in recent weeks, pushing Kessler to three sets in Montreal before a round of 32 run in Cincy.
The Verdict: Anisimova to win in straight sets at 0.75– This will be their first career meeting. Joint has really grown this season, cutting down the unforced errors count by focusing on more controlled aggression. Anisimova may still be carrying a bit of scar-tissue from that Swiatek defeat and Joint is also a hustler who covers plenty of ground. However, Anisimova is a great defensive player who should be able to withstand the more extended rallies. She will pick up more cheap games on serve and should end up a comfortable winner.
Karolina Muchova (11) 0.6 vs Sorana Cirstea 1.3
Karolina Muchova survived ‘Venus-fever’ in her first-round match, fending off a spirted 2nd set comeback to see off the former two-time champ 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. She was generally quite potent on serve throughout, winning 79% of her first-serve points. Williams just upped the tempo briefly in the 2nd set, hitting ten winners to just five unforced errors in that middle set. But Muchova quickly regained her focus in the decider, pummeling the icon into submission with her variety and depth of shot. A semifinalist here in each of the last two seasons, Muchova is now 6-2 since the start of this North American hardcourt swing. Next up for Muchova is a completely reinvigorated Sorana Cirstea. The 34-year-old Romanian has struggled with injuries over the last few years; missing part of last season due to foot surgery. She had a few decent results towards the start of the year, reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in Dubai and Austin. But she struggled with calf issues and was forced to skip the French Open. She was eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon, and it appeared as if her season was running out of steam. But she has been on a tear post-Wimbledon, improving to 13-4 in her last five events with an opening 7-5, 6-0 win over Solana Sierra. She reached the final 16 in Cincy and went on to claim her first title in four years in Cleveland (she is currently on a seven-match winning streak).
The Verdict: Cirstea to win in three at 4.4– Muchova has dominated this rivalry, leading 5-1 in the head-to-head stakes. Cirstea won in straight sets at the 2023 Miami Open. But the Czech has dominated their recent matches, thrashing the Romanian in the 2023 US Open quarterfinal (she also won earlier this year in Dubai). I just have a feeling that this could be Cirstea’s chance to gain a semblance of vengeance. She has been immense in recent weeks, playing with the type of controlled aggression that has largely eluded her. Muchova has also been a bit up-and-down (as evidenced in that opening victory over Williams).
Coco Gauff (3) 0.12 vs Donna Vekic 5
2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff was absolutely pushed to the limit in her New York opener, battling dips in form to somehow prevail 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 against Ajla Tomljanovic. Gauff hired a new coach heading into New York, bringing on the man who has been credited with fixing Sabalenka’s serve: Gavin McMillan. She still served ten double faults against the Aussie and will need to improve on that as the tournament progresses. She enjoyed fantastic success earlier this year, winning a 2nd career Grand Slam title in Paris. But she is yet to reach a hardcourt semifinal this season, battling with the mechanics of her serve and forehand on quicker surfaces. 29-year-old Croat Donna Vekic has endured a frustrating campaign. She enjoyed arguably the best season of her career last year, finishing runner-up at Bad Homburg and the Olympic Games. She also shone of the Grand Slam front, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon before a solid 4th round run at the US Open. She started this year with another 4th round run at the Aussie Open (meaning she had reached the 4th round or better in three successive slams for the first time in her career). But she has struggled for the rest of the year, splitting with coach Pam Shriver in June. The big-serving Croat was hardly convincing in her opener, coming from a set down to beat Spaniard Jesscia Bouzas 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The Verdict: Gauff to win in three at 3.2– These two share the head-to-head spoils at one win apiece. Vekic beat Gauff in last year’s French Open, but Gauff exacted her revenge at this year’s United Cup, easing past the Croat 6-4, 6-2. Vekic is the type of player who can elevate her game in big situations (look at last year’s Wimbledon and Olympic journeys). I think her big serve could rush Gauff’s tentative forehand. Still, Gauff should have too much quality and will grit it out: I foresee plenty of errors in this match.
