The year’s final Grand Slam begins on Monday at the US Open. Despite five players withdrawing from the tournament, it promises to be a great event. The women’s singles draw took place on Thursday. French Open champion Iga Swiatek will face Kamila Rakhimova, while Elena Rybakina, who split with her coach Stefano Vukov ahead of the US Open, was drawn against Destanee Aiava. This article picks the five most notable first-round matches from the women’s singles draw.
The Five Best Women’s First-Round Matches at the US Open
5. Karolina Muchova vs Katie Volynets
Last year’s French Open finalist Muchova is still searching for her best tennis after returning from nearly ten months out with an injury. The Czech reached the Palermo Open final last month, but she has not been near the level required to challenge for Grand Slams. However, she often plays her best tennis at majors, including during her US Open semifinal run last year. Volynets is an interesting matchup because of the problems she has caused big names in the sport this year. She has defeated Ons Jabeur, Mirra Andreeva, and Sofia Kenin and pushed Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Marketa Vondrousova, and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova hard in close matches.
Volynets is adept at extending rallies, meaning Muchova will need all her variety to disrupt her. That should lead to an enjoyable first-round contest to watch.
4. Emma Raducanu vs Sofia Kenin
2021 US Open champion Raducanu and 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin seek inspiration in New York. Neither player has been anywhere near their vintage best in 2024. Kenin’s struggles have been particularly notable, as she has made repeated unforced errors in her matches. Raducanu did not play in the National Bank Open or Cincinnati Open qualifying stages. She hopes the decision to spend extra time practicing instead of playing matches is the right one.
Expect plenty of clean hitting from these two. They both possess superb backhands, which could lead to some fun exchanges. Hopefully, the pair will bring the best out of each other in this first-round battle.
3. Qinwen Zheng vs Amanda Anisimova
Olympic champion Zhweng has her work cut out if Anisimova produces the form that took her to the National Bank Open final earlier this month. The American showed the talent she has always had to reach the biggest final of her career in Toronto. Zheng’s level dropped for a few months after making the Australian Open final earlier in the season. She hopes to avoid a repeat of that after her heroics at the Olympics.
There will be much powerful ball-striking from both players. Zheng can mix up her game by hitting her forehand with heavy topspin, which could be vital to disrupting Ansimova’s rhythm in their first-round contest.
2. Jasmine Paolini vs Bianca Andreescu
Wimbledon finalist Paolini and 2019 US Open champion Andreescu are set to meet for the third Grand Slam in a row. Paolini defeated the Canadian at the French Open and Wimbledon. The most significant difference in their previous matches was the Italian’s greater willingness to strike the ball hard and be aggressive with her forehand. Andreescu needs to serve well and be brave with her next shot to have a chance because Paolini is so good from the baseline.
The Canadian’s form before the US Open does not inspire confidence. However, Andreescu believes she has a better chance of overcoming the two-time Grand Slam runner-up in the first round of the tournament she won five years ago.
1. Naomi Osaka vs Jelena Ostapenko
Expect fireworks between two of the most aggressive players in the women’s game. 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko is one of the few WTA players who takes more risks than Osaka. The Japanese star recently spoke about her struggles since returning to tennis this year, saying she often does not feel in control of her own body. Overcoming something like that in a US Open first-round match against Ostapenko is a tough ask, but Osaka remains capable of brilliance.
The four-time Grand Slam winner hopes to become inspired at the event she won in 2018 and 2020. Both players are likely to hit several winners and unforced errors. Whoever makes the least mistakes will prevail.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
