Caroline Garcia looks to achieve a career-best showing at the US Open as she faces 28th seed Jennifer Brady in the third round at Flushing Meadows.
Garcia began her tournament with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the first round before sending shock waves through the draw with a 6-1, 7-6 (2) win over top seed Pliskova in round two. Brady has had little difficulty in her first two matches, dropping just nine games against Anna Blinkova and CiCi Bellis.
This is the seventh career meeting between Garcia and Brady with the previous six meetings being split evenly at three wins apiece. Their last meeting was in the semifinals of Nottingham in 2019 with the Frenchwoman winning in straight sets, but the American has won three of their four meetings on hard courts.
Playing second on Court 17, the match is scheduled to start at 12:15pm Eastern time with the winner facing 17th seed Angelique Kerber or unseeded Ann Li in the fourth round on Sunday.
Analysis
Both players have similar game styles, playing very powerful, aggressive tennis. Whoever controls the baseline will be able to get in the first strike and take charge of the rallies. Garcia has the stronger forehand while Brady is better from the backhand side. Each woman possesses a strong serve to compliment their ground game.
What may turn out to be key is the ability for Garcia to come to net to finish points. An accomplished doubles player, she can shorten points this way while putting pressure on Brady, who will look to dictate with her backhand. The American is in good form coming into the US Open, having won her first tour-level title in Lexington without dropping a set.
The fast courts will suit both players and there should be a lot of good shotmaking on display with both players moving well and full of confidence heading into this clash.
Assessment
This should be a very close match. A case can be made for either player as Garcia has had the more accomplished career, has had the best win in the tournament so far and is used to these types of contests while Brady is in excellent form and is ranked and seeded higher.
When the Frenchwoman knocked out Pliskova, the draw opened up and opportunity is there for anyone left in this half. Garcia kept her nerve well against the Czech, something she hasn't always handled in the past. What will be an entertaining, hard-hitting affair throughout, look for Garcia to prevail.
Prediction: Caroline Garcia in three sets