Round One action at the 2026 US Open concludes on Day 3 with 20 men’s and 20 women’s matches slated to hit the grounds in Flushing Meadows.
4 seed and American fan-favorite Coco Gauff gets her US Open campaign underway against the upset-minded Zeynep Sonmez.
Gauff, fresh off a dominant Cincinnati title run and firmly in the title conversation, should have too much firepower for the Turk in round one.
Prediction: Gauff in 2AmandaComing off a title run in Cincinnati, Gauff is playing her best tennis heading into the Slam she won in 2023.
Sonmez has been consistent in getting at least first-round wins this season, but against Gauff that streak will likely come to an end.
Round One action at the 2026 US Open concludes on Day 3 with 20 men’s and 20 women’s matches slated to hit the grounds in Flushing Meadows. No. 4 seed and American fan-favorite Coco Gauff gets her US Open campaign underway against the upset-minded Zeynep Sonmez. Tope Oke and Amanda Bergman offer their predictions. But who will advance?
US Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Robin Montgomery
Tope
Sakkarri’s summer surge makes her the favorite, but Montgomery arrives red-hot off three qualifying wins and a maiden title, and her lefty angles could make this a stickier opener than the seeding suggests.
Prediction: Montgomery in 3
Amanda
Montgomery came through qualifying and is in good form, but Sakkari has been quietly consistent all season long. Her last four losses were to top-seeded players, and she’s done well to beat the players she’s supposed to. Montgomery could get a set, but Sakkari should be able to pull through this one.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs Darja Vidmanova
Tope
Darja Vidmanova rolls into New York red-hot with four wins in five, a Monterrey quarter-final run backed by a 19-7 hard-court record this season. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro has flashed quality too, but her form’s been patchier, and Vidmanova’s aggressive baseline game should give her the edge here.
Prediction: Vidmanova in 3
Amanda
Vidmanova enters the US Open with a new career high and a solid run of form, while Bouzas Maneiro hasn’t won two matches in a row since Wimbledon. Although this is her first US Open main draw, Vidmanova is the favorite by ranking and has the tools to come through what should be a close match.
Prediction: Vidmanova in 3
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Arantxa Rus vs Leolia Jeanjean
Tope
Aranxta Rus arrives battle-tested after grinding through three rounds of qualifying, and that left-handed variety plus experience could make life uncomfortable for Leolia Jeanjean early on. But Jeanjean’s wildcard run has been shakier of late, and with her own weapons still sharp, this first-rounder looks like a genuine toss-up.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Amanda
The US Open is Rus’ first hard court event of the summer, and she had to come through a tough qualifying path to make it to the main draw. Those matches may be the preparation she needs to defeat Jeanjean, who hasn’t had much match play heading into this tournament. If Rus can keep her momentum going, she can win this match despite the stark rankings disparity.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Coco Gauff vs Zeynep Sonmez
Tope
Zeynep Sonmez has cracked the top 50 and shown flashes with three tour-level quarter-finals this season, but a rough recent stretch hasn’t inspired confidence heading into Flushing Meadows. Gauff, fresh off a dominant Cincinnati title run and firmly in the title conversation, should have too much firepower for the Turk in round one.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Amanda
Coming off a title run in Cincinnati, Gauff is playing her best tennis heading into the Slam she won in 2023. Sonmez has been consistent in getting at least first-round wins this season, but against Gauff that streak will likely come to an end. There is no part of Sonmez’s game better than Gauff’s, and right now Gauff doesn’t have many weaknesses to take advantage of.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch – Imagn Images
