The U.S. Open is beginning to feel like most of the other Grand Slam tournaments. It rained on Thursday, but a roof enabled a few center-court matches to continue. Players will have to deal with varying conditions depending on whether they get show court treatment or not. Here’s a look at our tennis picks for Friday.
Johanna Konta vs. Belinda Bencic
Johanna Konta was headed home after heat and humidity almost claimed her. She collapsed at the end of the second set under stifling heat but displayed tremendous composure and energy to overcome a stiff challenge thrown her way by Tsvetana Pironkova. Konta can actually thank the heat governing rules which allowed her a 20-minute break in order to recover from the breathing problems and shakes that affected her during the course of the second-round match.
Konta had cruised to 6-2 lead but was soon playing catch-up in the second set while she collapsed to the ground. After being treated, she came back on court only to double fault and lose the second
set 7-5. Konta immediately broke in the third set and then conjured a great comeback, filled with delightful drop shots and wonderful lobs. She controlled the match without allowing the deciding set pressure get to her. She eventually won 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 32 minutes.
Next up for Konta is Belinda Bencic, who destroyed Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-2. The Swiss leads the head-to-head 2-1, but their encounters have too close to call with two of their three matches finishing in deciding sets. Bencic may be having a rough 2016 but she is turning it around in some style. Konta faces a difficult challenge in terms of a physical recuperation. Take Bencic with your tennis picks in this spot.
Prediction: Bencic in three sets
Petra Kvitova vs Elina Svitolina
The two-time Wimbledon champion has historically struggled in the Big Apple reaching the quarterfinal stage only once in her lifetime. Kvitova, who has suffered litany of injuries doesn’t expect herself to progress deep in to the tournament despite reaching the third round largely untroubled. Kvitova is title less this season and has seen her ranking plummet to no.16 after being a regular feature in the top-10 for most of her career.
The Czech star next plays Elina Svitolina, whom she leads 3-1 in the head-to-head standings. The pair recently squared off in Rio, where Kvitova was the victor, destroying Svitolina 6-2, 6-0. Svitolina has progressed to the third round but it’s been a hard grind for her so far. The young Ukrainian needed three sets to close out Mandy Minella in the first round and then worked overtime again to beat Lauren Davis in the deciding third set. Now, can Svitolina hang in tough and beat the two-time major winner? It’s hard to see that happening. Take Kvitova with your tennis picks in this one.
Prediction: Kvitova in three sets
Angelique Kerber vs Catherine Bellis
Angelique Kerber is undoubtedly experiencing her best season on tour. At the start of the season, had you said Kerber would make two major finals, bid for Olympic gold, qualify for the final showdown in Singapore, and contest the World No.1 ranking, many would have laughed. Now, that she has extra motivation to become the No. 1 women’s player, she is playing excellent tennis. In the first round, Kerber didn’t have to do much against Polona Hercog, who withdrew just after 30 minutes. In the second round, against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, she was running away with the match at one stage but midway through the second set, Lucic-Baroni’s barrage became too much to handle and she quickly fell behind. The way she handled a mini-crisis says a lot about her champion’s mindset. She toughed out a win in straight sets and got off the court quickly.
She next plays Catherine ‘CiCi’ Bellis, a 17-year-old, who beat fellow American Shelby Rogers 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. With this win, she showed that she can stick around at this level. Two years ago, at the tender age of 15, Bellis made a name for herself with a stunning upset over 12th-seeded Domnika Cibulkova. Can she shock the tennis world yet again? Probably not. That’s why Kerber is the better bet for your tennis picks here.
Prediction: Kerber in three sets
