Day 5, 2026 US Open Featuring top American Coco Gauff and other fan favorites like Naomi Osaka on the match card. Committee members provide their views and Predictions For each men’s and women’s singles match on Thursday.
Coco Gauff vs Paula Badosa
Top: Paula Badosa is on an unbroken level and is in a combat test after racking up nine match points against Daria Kasatkina, while Coco Jouf He looks sharp but not yet dominant after his impressive win over Sonmez. With a 5-3 head-to-head record and back-to-back wins over Gauff, including a comeback in Berlin, Badosa looks like the last player the fourth seed wants to see early, but she still has to step up in New York.
prediction: Jove in 3
sixty: 14-16 at tour level this season, Badosa is still at least two years away from her best tennis. Gauff has been dominant this summer, only losing to Rybakina in Toronto. Gauff should have a comfortable run in the second round.
prediction: Jove in 2
Marie Bouzkova vs. Harriet Dart
Top: Harriet Dart claimed the only head-to-head win in a three-set battle at Eastbourne in 2024, although the pair had never met on hard courts before. Given Bouzkova’s superiority in the classification and level of hard courts, the Czech should have enough strength to avenge her defeat on grass courts and reach the third round.
prediction: Bouzkova in 3
sixty: Bouzkova has already achieved a career best with her WTA win this year. Dart has been very strong in qualifying but will likely be out of the way here despite maintaining a h2h advantage.
prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Tatiana Maria vs Nikola Bartonkova
Top: This will be the first ever meeting between the two players, and while Bartonkova arrives in better form, the 39-year-old Maria will rely on craft, versatility and big-match courage to try and spoil the Czech’s career, and I believe she can.
prediction: Maria on 3
sixty: At 39, with 18 tour-level wins this year, Maria is a marvel, while Bartonkova, 20, has a career-high ranking and is playing the best tennis of her life. She is a semi-finalist in Monterrey, has won 19 matches on tour this year, and should be the fittest player who can beat Maria.
prediction: Bartonkova in 3
Iva Jovic vs Francesca Jones
Top: Iva Jovic, seeded 14th, faces Francesca Jones, who just won by three over Magda Linette. The American’s firepower should be too much for Jones to solve in her first taste of the second round of the Flushing Meadows heat. Jovic is in two, but don’t expect Jones to quietly go through that kind of grind to get here.
prediction: Jovic in 2
sixty: 32-18 and at a career high, there is a lot to think about positively when it comes to Jovic right now. Fran Jones has qualified and is looking to get back into the top 100. Jones is not an easy opponent to beat, but Jovic has a more versatile style of play.
prediction: Jovic in 2
Main image source: Robert Deutsch-Imagine images
