Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the US Open match.
Paula Badosa
In the fourth round, the Spaniard effortlessly beat the Chinese player Wang Yafan (80), but earlier, she was clearly outplayed at times by Elena-Gabriela Ruse (122). In the third set, at 5:4 and 40:30 on Badosa's serve, the Romanian had a match point but squandered it. If Paula continues to play with such inconsistency, what's in store for her against an American who rightfully took down the world number three?
Emma Navarro
In 2024, Emma Navarro has been steadily improving her performance at Grand Slam tournaments. In Australia, she reached the third round; in France, the fourth; at Wimbledon, the quarter-finals; and finally, she also made it to the quarter-finals in the US. When it became clear she would face Coco Gauff, fans knew they were in for some top-notch tennis. At Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 23-year-old American defeated her compatriot with a more consistent first serve (66% vs 46%) and better performance on the second serve (66% vs 40%). She also made nearly half as many unforced errors (35-60).
Paula Badosa - Emma Navarro Prediction
The players have met only once before. This year in Rome, in the round of 32, the Spaniard emerged victorious (1:6, 6:4, 6:2). Despite this, it’s evident how much Navarro has been improving. Bookmakers have more faith in the Spaniard, but the American doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. The match against Gauff was impressive, so we’re betting on Emma Navarro. At such solid odds, this is a wager worth taking.
