The US Open is back in full swing, and Day 2 is delivering the kind of electric atmosphere only New York can offer. With 24 women’s singles first-round matches on the docket for August 26, 2025, fans are bracing for a marathon of tennis action at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The field is stacked with seasoned champions, ambitious newcomers, and a few players with something to prove. The big question? Who will seize their moment and advance, and who will be packing their bags early?
Let’s dive into the matchups, predictions, and storylines shaping Day 2, drawing on insights from expert analysts and the latest stats from across the tour.
First up is the intriguing clash between Leolia Jeanjean and Priscilla Hon. On paper, it’s a tight matchup. Jeanjean’s natural shot-making talent faces off against Hon’s gritty experience. Jim Smith, weighing in on the match, noted, "Leolia Jeanjean is probably the more naturally talented, but Patricia Hon has the edge in terms of experience." Hon impressed in qualifying, not dropping a set, but her form over the summer has been up and down. Damian Kust added, "Hon qualified a bit out of nowhere, but produced three strong performances to make it without dropping a set." Meanwhile, Jordan Reynolds highlighted Hon’s accurate ball-striking as a key to victory. The panel’s predictions were split, with Jeanjean and Hon each finding support in three-set forecasts, but Jordan tipped Hon in straight sets, citing her current momentum.
Katie Volynets’s path to the main draw was anything but easy, but she made it look routine, dropping just one set in qualifying. Now, she faces Zeynep Sonmez, a player whose ranking remains buoyed by a title in Merida but who has yet to establish herself as a WTA Tour regular. Jim Smith remarked, "Katie Volynets was perhaps unlikely not to be awarded a wildcard, but made light of that misfortune by coming through the qualifying." Damian Kust observed that Volynets’s qualifying run was a battle, but her matchup against Sonmez looks even. Jordan Reynolds expects a contest filled with long rallies, adding, "Volynets possesses one of the best attitudes in the game, and that might get her over the line in what could be a tight match." All three analysts ultimately predicted Volynets to edge through, most expecting a three-set battle.
Yulia Putintseva’s season has been a rollercoaster, and her first-round encounter with Elisabetta Cocciaretto has experts divided. Putintseva boasts the higher ceiling, but recent results have cast doubt on her form. Jim Smith put it bluntly: "It has been a miserable summer for the Kazakh and whilst Elisabetta Cocciaretto hasn’t exactly been pulling up trees herself, she has at least been winning some matches." Damian Kust is tempted to back Putintseva’s upside but isn’t convinced she’s turned the corner. Jordan Reynolds thinks Cocciaretto’s style will pose problems, making the Italian the favorite. The predictions here are as split as the players’ recent fortunes, with Cocciaretto and Putintseva each getting nods for a possible three-set win.
Madison Keys, fresh off her Australian Open triumph earlier in 2025, is another big name in action. Her opponent, Renata Zarazua, is no pushover, known for her defensive grit and ability to grind out points. However, the consensus is that Keys’s power game should overwhelm Zarazua, especially with the home crowd behind her. Jim Smith said, "That’s not to say she couldn’t lose this match, only to say it would be a significant surprise if she were to fall short against Renata Zarazua." Damian Kust echoed that sentiment, pointing out that Zarazua’s game "doesn’t offer much more than consistency," while Jordan Reynolds believes Keys’s hitting is more than a match for Zarazua’s defense. Most experts are calling for a straight-sets win for Keys, but as always, the US Open has a way of throwing up surprises.
Elsewhere, the spotlight falls on world No. 56 Alycia Parks and No. 5 Mirra Andreeva. Parks, with a 14-18 record in 2025 and no titles to her name this year, faces a tall order against Andreeva, who’s been on a tear with a 34-11 record and two tournament titles. This round-of-128 showdown is one of the most anticipated matches of the day, and betting odds from BetMGM Sportsbook reflect Andreeva’s status as the favorite. Fans eager to catch all the action can stream the matches live on ESPN+, adding an extra layer of excitement for those following the drama from afar.
Anna Kalinskaya is another player to watch as she begins her campaign. Last year, the Russian bowed out in the third round to Beatriz Haddad Maia, but her route to this year’s draw starts with Clervie Ngounoue, a rising American talent sporting a 33-11 record in 2025 and a strong 27-9 mark on hard courts. This will be the first main tour meeting between Kalinskaya and Ngounoue, setting the stage for a compelling battle of styles. Should Kalinskaya advance, she could face the likes of Yulia Putintseva or Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the next round, with even tougher potential matchups looming further down the draw—think Iga Swiatek, Ekaterina Alexandrova, or Amanda Anisimova.
Swiatek, currently riding a five-match winning streak and coming off a Wimbledon title, is another heavy hitter in the women’s draw. Her 49-12 record in 2025, including a 28-7 mark on hard courts, signals she’s ready to contend deep into the tournament. Meanwhile, Ekaterina Alexandrova (35-18, 10-10 on hard) and Amanda Anisimova (33-15, 13-7 on hard) are both in strong form, each with notable title wins this season.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on the emerging storylines—will the favorites hold their ground, or will a new star announce herself on the big stage? With a packed schedule and so many potential upsets in the mix, Day 2 of the US Open promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats from the first serve to the last ball struck.
With the first round still underway, the only certainty is that the US Open’s trademark drama is alive and well. The coming days will reveal which players can turn predictions into reality—and which ones will write their own unexpected stories in the New York spotlight.
