US Open 2024 Day 3: Women's singles predictions ft. Aryna Sabalenka vs Lucia Bronzetti

Day 3 of the US Open 2024 will see the start of the second round on Wednesday, August 28. Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion at the venue, made a winning return to New York with a 6-3, 6-2 win over World No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko in the first round on Tuesday.

Top seed Iga Swiatek had a relatively tough opener by her usual standards but outlasted lucky loser Kamila Rakhimova 6-4, 7-6 (6) to reach the second round. Caroline Wozniacki raced through her opener as she beat qualifier Nao Hibino 6-0, 6-1.

Elena Rybakina notched up her first win since Wimbledon after beating Destanee Aiava 6-1, 7-6 (1) in the first round. Former champion Emma Raducanu bit the dust as she was ousted by fellow Major champion Sofia Kenin in three sets.

As players aim to reach the third round on Wednesday, here's a look at the predictions for some key matches lined up on Day 3 of the US Open:

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#1 - Aryna Sabalenka vs Lucia Bronzetti

Sabalenka, who won the Cincinnati Open and is one of the favorites to win the US Open, started her campaign with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Priscilla Hon. She dropped her serve only once and had a positive winners to unforced errors ratio.

Bronzetti faced Lulu Sun in her opener here and moved into the second round after her opponent retired at the conclusion of the first set. The Italian and Sabalenka have crossed paths only once thus far, which was at this year's Brisbane International.

Sabalenka hammered Bronzetti 6-3, 6-0 back then. The latter lacks a significant weapon in her arsenal to trouble the former. Given the Belarusian's form, another beatdown wouldn't be too surprising.

Predicted winner: Aryna Sabalenka

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#2 - Barbora Krejcikova vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse

Barbora Krejcikova at the US Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

After struggling with injuries throughout the season, Krejcikova had her moment under the sun when she captured her second Major title in singles at Wimbledon. However, her joy was rather shortlived as her injury woes bothered her once again. It caused her Paris Olympics campaign to go sideways, and she pulled out of the Cincinnati Open.

Krejcikova's first-round match at the US Open was her first in a few weeks, and she beat Marina Bassols Ribera 7-6 (3), 6-2 to advance further. Ruse, meanwhile, came through the qualifying rounds and defeated Julia Grabher 6-2, 6-4 in her opener.

Ruse has lost both of her matches against Krejcikova, including one on hardcourts at last year's Abu Dhabi Open. The Czech isn't at her best just yet but her current level should be enough to fend off her opponent for now.

Predicted winner: Barbora Krejcikova

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#3 - Marta Kostyuk vs Harriet Dart

Kostyuk started her US Open journey with a 6-2, 6-3 win over McCartney Kessler, who won the title in Cleveland over the weekend. Dart, meanwhile, barely broke a sweat over the course of her 6-1, 6-2 win over Chloe Paquet.

Dart has matched her career-best result at the US Open by making the second round, while Kostyuk is one win away from doing the same. The Brit won her only main draw match against the Ukrainian at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne in three sets a couple of years ago.

However, grass is Dart's preferred surface, and Kostyuk beat her handily when they met on hardcourts, albeit in a qualifying encounter. The Brit is also 3-16 against top-20 opponents in her career and has lost her last six matches against them. This makes the Ukrainian the heavy favorite to come through this clash.

Predicted winner: Marta Kostyuk

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#4 - Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Iva Jovic

Iva Jovic at the US Open 2024. (Phoot: Getty)

16-year-old Jovic received a main draw wildcard into the US Open, thus making her Grand Slam debut at the senior level. She has been killing it on the junior circuit this year, winning the girls' doubles title at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while reaching the final of the French Open.

Jovic dispatched former Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette 6-3, 6-4 in the first round to make an impressive debut. Alexandrova was pushed to three sets by Viktoriya Tomova but staged a comeback to beat her 6-7 (4), 6-0, 7-5.

The young Jovic is the clear underdog here but she still has a shot to score another upset win. If she's able to capitalize on Alexandrova's inconsistencies, then she certainly has a chance to come out on top. However, that's a big if on the American's part, and her limited exposure against the top guns on the WTA Tour could handicap her in this round.

Predicted winner: Ekaterina Alexandrova