US Open Women’s Quarter-Finals Expert Predictions
Posted by Henry Watkins on Tuesday,September 6, 2016 3:42, EDT in
The US Open has once again provided us with some real excitement and a healthy dose of quality tennis, and we are now getting down to the wire in the women’s event at Flushing Meadows. Serena Williams came in as the overwhelming betting odds favorite, and she has certainly lived up to the hype, blowing through the opening three rounds to make it all the way to the quarter-finals. There are some familiar faces in the final eight, but there are also a couple of surprises, to the point where we are going to definitely see an unranked player in the final four. Let’s take a look at the quarter-final match-ups, and make some predictions as we go.
US Open Women’s Quarter-Finals Expert Predictions
Serena Williams (1) Vs Simona Halep (5)
While Serena Williams was the favorite to win, there were some concerns about the state of her shoulder, but it appears as though those worries have been unfounded. She has looked very strong, and has been having some real success with her always powerful first serve. Simona Halep can win this one of her return game stays on point. She is definitely at her best on the hard court, and could give Serena a tough game if she can play to her very best. These two have met 8 times in the past, and it has been Serena who has dominated with 7 wins. I think she wins this one and moves on in straight sets.
Karolina Pliskova (10) Vs Ana Konjuh
This is beginning to look as though it may be a breakout year for Pliskova, as she has parlayed her win at the Cincinnati Open into her first Grand Slam quarter-final appearance. She got there by taking out Venus Williams in a 3-set thriller in the third round, and you have to believe that she is the favorite to move on to the semis. Konjuh is just 18 years old, and is coming off perhaps the best game of her pro career with a straight sets win over Radawanska in the previous round. She has a chance here, but needs to improve her first serve, as the second serve is an issue. Give the edge to Pliskova in this one.
Anastasija Sevastova Vs Caroline Wozniacki
You may not have heard of Anastasija Sevastova prior to this tournament, but she is making sure that you remember her after it. She has taken out a trio of top 15 players, and has yet to drop a set through the opening three rounds. She is major threat here. Caroline Wozniacki has slipped down the rankings in the last couple of years, but she is returning to form, and has played error-free tennis through the opening rounds. This figures to be a close one, but I have Wozniacki winning it in 3 sets.
Roberta Vinci (7) Vs Angelique Kerber (2)
The US Open is a tournament in which Roberta Vinci always seems to do well. That said, she has been winning in spite of the fact that she has been racking up the unforced errors along the way. She has only dropped a single set so far, but is going to have to be better if she hopes to win this one. Kerber is playing some great tennis at this event, failing to drop a set, and only losing a total of 10 games in her last two matches. She will pounce on any errors made by Vinci, and will win this one in straight sets.
