18-year-old Mirra Andreeva has absolutely breezed through her first two matches, dropping just five games against the pair of Parks and Potapova.
2025 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York City (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected 3rd Round Matches- 30th August
Mirra Andreeva (5) 0.18 vs Taylor Townsend 3.7
One more win and Andreeva will have reached the final 16 at all four majors at the age of 18. She never served at her best in her 2nd round win over Potapova, winning 64% of her first-serve points. But she was absolutely brutal on return, winning 57% of her total return points. The 18-year-old Russian has been the breakout player on this year’s tour, winning back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Qatar and Indian Wells. She has reached a raft of quarterfinals since them (including back-to-back Grand Slam quarterfinal runs in Paris and Wimbledon). She is a remarkably mature all-court player, utilizing heavy topspin on that forehand wing. She hits the two-handed backhand flatter, accumulating plenty of winners off that side. She also loves to change the pace of rallies with drop-shots and slice. She appears to have all the weaponry to be a future Grand Slam champion.
I have always said that the New York atmosphere can bring out the worst in players (see Serena Williams and Daniil Medvedev). Taylor Townsend was on the receiving end of a ridiculous tirade in her 2nd round victory over Jelena Ostapenko, with the combustible Latvian apparently admonishing her for a ‘lack of education’. It was the type of unsavoury incident that typifies this slam: respect goes out the window. Still, the big-serving lefty looked impressive against Ostapenko and is yet to drop a set this week. She has enjoyed a fantastic year on the double’s circuit, winning a 2nd Grand Slam title in Melbourne and reaching No.1 in the world at the recent Citi Open. She has underwhelmed in singles but started to pick up momentum during this North American hardcourt series, reaching the Washington quarterfinals after trouncing Sofia Kenin in the round of 16. She also beat 13th seed Luidmila Samsonova en route to a round of 32 run in Cincinnati. She will get plenty of fanatical crowd support for this match (especially in light of that Ostapenko fiasco).
The Verdict: Townsend to win in straight sets at 7.4– Andreeva leads the head-to-head 1-0, coming back from a set down to win a nail-biting match at this year’s Marid Open. I really think that Townsend could pull off a major upset here. Her direct in-your-face style will work better against Andreeva on these surfaces. Her eagerness to get to the net could force the Russian into some uncharacteristic errors. Andreeva is still just 18 years of age and could struggle with what is going to be a carnival-like atmosphere.
Daria Kasatkina (15) 2.35 vs Naomi Osaka 0.31
Recently converted Aussie Daria Kasatkina looked like she was cruising into this year’s 3rd round, twice leading former compatriot Kamilla Rakhimova by a set and a break. But she failed to close out the 2nd and quickly found herself 1-4 down in the decider, with those pesky serving demons rearing their ugly head again. But the crafty Kasatkina dug in, drawing on her impressive array of shot-making skill to wrestle the match away from Rakhimova, fighting off cramps to finally prevail 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. This has been an extremely tough campaign for Kasatkina, who has only reached one quarterfinal in 19 events all season (yikes). Perhaps distracted by her recent change of nationality, the dexterous Aussie has looked indecisive in crux situations. Lest we forget, Kasatkina reached six finals last season. Having said all that, she has flirted with some massive Grand Slam results this year, reaching the 4th round at the Aussie and French Opens. She also has some minor US Open pedigree, looking to reach the 4th round here for the 3rd time in her career.
Speaking of US Open pedigree, two-time Flushing Meadows champ Naomi Osaka will be looking to reach the 4th round of a slam for the first time since claiming the 2021 Aussie Open title. Osaka- who has endured well-documented mental health battles- took time away from court to have her first child, returning to action in January last year. She has played in fits and starts since her return but really burst into life in Montreal, reaching her first WTA 1000 final in three years. She courted a bit of controversy in the final, failing to congratulate Victoria Mboko in her post-match press conference. Be that as it may, Osaka has brought that ebullient form into Flushing Meadows, progressing to the 3rd round without dropping a set. She was ruthlessness personified in her 2nd round win over Hailey Baptiste, cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 win. She is now 8-1 since teaming up with Swiatek’s former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. Her movement has looked elite these past few weeks and could prove the catalyst to another deep Grand Slam run. She has also caught the eye this year, with her assortment of blinged-up Labubus causing a real social media stir.
The Verdict: Osaka to win in straight sets at 0.76– Osaka leads the head-to-head 2-0, winning their most recent meeting at last year’s Italian Open. I just can’t see any other result than a comfortable Osaka win. Her movement has looked restricted these past few years (almost as if her heart wasn’t in it). But Wiktorowski appears to have unlocked something in the Japanese star and she is suddenly moving with purpose and speed. Kasatkina will likely wilt in the face of Osaka’s power and depth of shot.
