Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA US Open match.
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, meets Amanda Anisimova, who is enjoying the best season of her career. Both players arrive in excellent form, but the Japanese has added motivation: she is seeking her first victory over an opponent who leads their head-to-head (0-2).
Naomi Osaka
Osaka looks in imposing form. She has won 11 of her last 12 matches on hard courts, dropping only four sets in that run. The Japanese tends to raise her level in the latter stages of majors: from the quarter-finals onwards, she is on a 13-match winning streak at Grand Slams. In the quarter-finals, Naomi defeated Karolína Muchová (6:4, 7:6), underpinned by a strong first serve (65% first serves in, 75% of points won on the first serve).
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova broke into the top 10 this season, reaching the final at Wimbledon and a WTA 500 event in London. Her trademark is aggressive tennis, heavy hitting and a strong backhand. On her way to the semi-finals, Amanda produced a shock by eliminating Iga Świątek (6:4, 6:3), but overall her draw has been significantly softer than Osaka’s. The American does not have extensive experience at the US Open. This is the first time she has reached this stage, whereas Naomi won the title in 2018 and 2020.
Naomi Osaka vs Amanda Anisimova Prediction
Naomi has the requisite experience and an excellent semi-finals record. Given her current form, her ability to control the tempo and apply pressure on return, we are siding with Osaka.
