2023 US Open Day 2 picks: Expert predictions

2023 US Open Day 2 picks: Expert prediction

First-round play concludes on Day 2 of the 2023 US Open, as defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and two-time US Open women’s champ Venus Williams headline a formidable field of talent that also includes former US Open titlists Daniil Medvedev, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.

Add in this year’s Aussie Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, Wimbledon women’s champ Marketa Vondrousova, three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur, 2021 Roland Garros winner Barbora Krejcikova, along with Flushing fan favorites Gael Monfils.

Williams, who won two of her seven career major titles here in 2000 and 2001, is making her 24th US Open appearance. In addition to her two titles, the former No. 1 has also twice finished runner-up here, and has reached at least the semifinals nine times, most recently in 2017.

At 43, and limited by injuries, Williams now plays a selective schedule; this year’s US Open appearance is just her third at a major in the last two years, and she’s competed in just six tournaments in 2023.

But her presence here as a wild card in a year in which this event is celebrating the 50th anniversary of equal prize money is especially fitting, as she has been the leading voice of this generation in the ongoing fight for pay equity.

The two-time US Open champ will look to let her racquet do the talking this evening as she faces off with qualifier Greet Minnen.

The two women have never met, and although Minnen already has three matches here under her belt, I’m still giving the edge to Williams.

The two-time US Open champ may not be match tough, but she knows how to tough out a match. This one goes three—and Williams goes on.

Alcaraz, returning to the scene of his coming-out party in 2022, in which he became just the second teenager in the Open Era to capture the Flushing men’s crown and, at 19 years, four months.