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Serena was leading 6-0, 2-0 when her opponent retired, whereas Ana Ivanovic crashed out in the first round itself to Dominika CibulkovaThe US Open got off to a great start with some of the seeded players breezing through and others slipping in the first round and crashing out. Reigning champion Serena Williams had it easy as Russian Vitalia Diatchenko retired in the second set with the score at 6-0, 2-0 in Serena’s favour. Her sister, Venus, on the other hand had to work for her victory against Monica Puig of Puerto Rica but prevailed over her opponent in the third set, winning 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.Some others didn’t have the luxury of advancing to the second round, with Ana Ivanovic losing to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Heather Watson of Great Britain, who gave Serena the fight of her life during the Wimbledon semi-finals lost to Lauren Davis of USA in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6. This is the fifth straight time she has been knocked out in the first round of the US Open.Day one was one full of ups and downs. Here’s a look at the fixtures of Day 2:
#1 Caroline Woznizcki (4) vs Jamie Loeb
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Last year’s runner-up and the fourth seed this year, Caroline Wozniacki will look to brush aside her opponent Jamie Loeb, 19 of the United States. The Dane is a former world no. 1 who held the position for 67 weeks and would want to get her US Open off to a great start by beating her lesser known opponent.
This is Loeb’s first US Open appearance and that should play into Wozniacki’s hands. They have never met before and Wozniacki will look to go through easily. Over-confidence can also result in a loss, so Wozniacki will have to keep her calm as the young American will come all out at her as she has never played in the US Open before and so will have nothing to lose.
WTA Rankings:
Caroline Wozniacki: 5 (4740 points)
Jamie Loeb: 413 (78 points)
Prediction: Caroline Wozniacki to easily go through to the second round in two sets.
#2 Lucie Safarova (6) vs Lesia Tsurenko
Lucie Safarova, the finalist at this year’s French Open, who lost to Serena in three sets, will face Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine. Safarova, who has won four out of her last five matches, will take on Tsurenko for the third time.
The southpaw from the Czech Republic has prevailed over her opponent in the previous two meetings, including a straight sets win the last time they met at New Haven. Coincidentally, this was Tsurenko’s last match before her first round fixture at the US Open against the same opponent. Safarova has a total of six WTA titles and would be looking to put her experience to good use.
WTA Rankings:
Lucie Safarova: 6 (3800 points)
Lesia Tsurenko: 37 (1382 points)
Prediction: Despite the points difference, it might turn out to be a healthy match as Tsurenko will try to beat Safarova for the first time in three meetings. Safarova to win a three-set contest.
#3 Garbine Muguruza (9) vs Carina Witthoeft
Garbine Muguruza, the Spaniard who reached the finals of this year’s Wimbledon and gave Serena the fright of her life by fighting back in the second set, is all set to face Carina Witthoeft of Germany. Muguruza hasn’t had the best of times after the Wimbledon final as she has lost three out of her last five matches. Witthoeft on the other hand, also has the same amount of success, having lost three out of her five.
Muguruza and Witthoeft have faced each other only once, at the Stuttgart Open in 2013, which the former won easily, sweeping aside the German 6-2, 6-2 in the semis. After a look at their head-to-head record, it does seem obvious that the Italian will win her first round match but there is no need to be complacent.
WTA Rankings:
Garbine Muguruza: 9 (3245 points)
Carina Witthoeft: 49 (1090 points)
Prediction: Muguruza easily beat Witthoeft during their previous meeting and should look to do the same again. Muguruza to win in straight sets.
#4 Timea Bacsinszky (14) vs Barbora Strycova
Swiss international Timea Bacsinszky reached the semifinals of the French Open this year and also had a winning streak of 15 straight matches, clinching two titles. She lost to Serena Williams in the semis at the French Open and will face Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, an opponent she has never faced before.
Strycova has won three out of her last five matches whereas Bacsinszky has had a turbulent last couple of months, losing four continuous matches. The Swiss player hasn’t been in the best of form and has to be careful that she isn’t upset by the Czech, who lost to Eugenie Bouchard in the round of 32 last year.
WTA Rankings:
Timea Bacsinszky: 14 (2896 points)
Barbora Strycova: 42 (1290 points)
Prediction: These two competitors have never met before, so Strycova might throw up a surprise against Bacsinszky, who is going through a lean phase. Bacsinszky to win a hard fought three setter.
#5 Victoria Azarenka (20) vs Lucie Hradecka
Victoria Azarenka, the two-time Australian Open winner and bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics will take on Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic in the first round in the Ladies singles on day two. Azarenka, the former World no. 1 has won the last 4 of her six matches whereas Hardecka has won three of her last six.
The two have faced each other thrice with Azarenka winning all three of those meeting with the last two being on Clay. At the previous Grand Slams this year, the Belarusian lost to Dominica Cibulkova in Melbourne and then twice to Serena Williams, losing in the Round of 32 in the French Open and the quarter-final at the Wimbledon.
WTA Rankings:
Victoria Azarenka: 20 (2271 points)
Lucie Hradecka: 56 (1015 points)
Prediction: Azarenka has the edge over Hradecka and will want to continue her 3-0 streak against her and has put up good performances the past few weeks leading into the US Open. Azarenka to sweep Hradecka away in straight sets.
