Day 4 of the US Open ushers in the second round of the women’s singles draw, with sixteen matches slated across the hard‑court venues. While the tournament features a full slate of contests, three LWOT contributors—Amanda Bergman, Tope Oke and Ilemona Onekutu—provided detailed predictions for four of the more closely watched pairings. Their analyses draw on recent form, head‑to‑head history and the unique pressures of a Grand Slam environment.
Diana Shnaider vs. Karolina Pliskova
In a clash that pits a rising hard‑court talent against a former world No. 1, Diana Shnaider entered the match after a dominant first‑round performance and a recent upset win over Jodie Burrage at Wimbledon. Pliskova, who previously bested Shnaider at Wimbledon—a surface that traditionally suits her aggressive baseline game—looked to leverage her experience.
Amanda Bergman noted that the only prior meeting between the two occurred at Wimbledon, where Shnaider prevailed despite Pliskova’s comfort on grass. Bergman highlighted Shnaider’s current hard‑court momentum and predicted a three‑set victory for the Russian.
Tope Oke focused on Pliskova’s recent struggle with double faults in a three‑set escape against Vandewinkel, suggesting that Shnaider’s consistency could expose the Czech’s service vulnerabilities. Oke also favored a two‑set win for Shnaider.
Ilemona Onekutu emphasized Shnaider’s confidence after her first‑round success and described Pliskova as a player still seeking consistency after injuries and ranking drops. Onekutu aligned with Bergman, forecasting a three‑set triumph for Shnaider.
Taylor Townsend vs. Taylah Preston
The second‑round encounter features American crowd‑pleaser Taylor Townsend against Australian wildcard Taylah Preston, who earned a historic first‑round win over Alycia Parks. Townsend, known for her serve‑and‑volley style, has previously demonstrated strong performances on the US Open stage.
Amanda Bergman argued that Townsend benefits from a home‑crowd boost and possesses a more varied game than Preston, who relies on baseline power. Bergman predicted a straight‑set victory for Townsend.
Tope Oke, however, highlighted Preston’s momentum after becoming the first Australian to reach a US Open second round this year. He suggested the match could evolve into a three‑set battle, with Preston potentially extending the contest.
Ilemona Onekutu contrasted Townsend’s net skills and experience with Preston’s youthful energy, concluding that Townsend’s all‑court game should be decisive. Onekutu also projected a two‑set win for Townsend.
Kamila Rakhimova vs. Oksana Selekhmeteva
Kamila Rakhimova, fresh off a first‑round upset of Barbora Krejcikova, faces Oksana Selekhmeteva, who has enjoyed a three‑match winning streak against Rakhimova earlier in the season. Both players have demonstrated resilience on hard courts.
Amanda Bergman pointed to Rakhimova’s momentum but warned that Selekhmeteva’s recent form and head‑to‑head advantage could tilt the match in her favor, predicting a three‑set win for the Russian teenager.
Tope Oke observed that the two have met four times with roughly even results, noting that neither has ever closed out a match in straight sets. He anticipated a third‑set decider, giving a slight edge to Selekhmeteva based on her 2026 performance metrics.
Ilemona Onekutu recalled that Selekhmeteva defeated Rakhimova at the ATX Open earlier in the year, providing a mental advantage. She also forecasted a three‑set victory for Selekhmeteva.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Polina Iatcenko
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened her title defense with a straight‑sets win over Camila Osorio, extending her streak of 16 consecutive opening‑round straight‑set victories at majors. Qualifier Polina Iatcenko, meanwhile, survived a dramatic three‑set battle against Renata Zarazua, saving two match points before prevailing.
Amanda Bergman described Sabalenka’s dominant display and labeled Iatcenko’s qualifying run as impressive but insufficient against the top seed, predicting a two‑set win for Sabalenka.
Tope Oke highlighted Sabalenka’s ability to recover from a brief second‑set wobble against Osorio and warned that maintaining a low error count would be crucial. He also projected a two‑set victory for the world number one.
Ilemona Onekutu noted Sabalenka’s continued straight‑set success in Grand Slam openers and emphasized that Iatcenko’s first deep run at this level would likely be halted by Sabalenka’s firepower. Onekutu’s prediction aligned with a two‑set win for the defending champion.
Collectively, the LWOT analysts leaned heavily toward the higher‑ranked or in‑form players in each of the four matchups, underscoring the importance of recent momentum, head‑to‑head history and the ability to manage pressure on the sport’s biggest stage.
As the US Open progresses into its second week, the outcomes of these second‑round contests will shape the pathways for the remaining competitors and set the tone for the battles that lie ahead in the later stages of the tournament.
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