US Open Tips & Preview – Camila Giorgi V Simona Halep

WILL EVANS’ daily preview serves up US Open tips for a first-round blockbuster between Camila Giorgi and Simona Halep.

History: Played 1: Halep 1 V Giorgi 0

Last meeting: Miami Masters, 2015 (R32): Halep d Giorgi 6-4 7-5

Final Thoughts: In-form Camila Giorgi faces two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep in the US Open’s first round.
The women’s draw will be down one bona fide contender after this clash. Giorgi’s record in majors since her breakthrough quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in 2018 is fairly unimpressive. Third-round appearances at the 2019-20 Australian Opens are her best efforts since, while she dipped out in the second round of all three Slam events so far in 2021.

But the 29-year-old is coming off a huge win at the Canadian Masters – her first WTA title in almost three years. Giorgi, who also reached the quarter-finals at the Olympics, beat seeded players Elise Mertens, Petra Kvitova, Coco Gauff and Karolina Pliskova on her way to her maiden WTA 1000 event success.

The Italian subsequently lost to Jessica Pegula – who she defeated in the semis in Montreal – in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters.

Underdone Halep searches for momentum

No.12 seed Halep missed the French Open and Wimbledon through injury. The feisty Romanian returned from a three-month layoff in Montreal, losing to Danielle Collins in the first round. She then beat Magda Linette first up at the Cincinnati Masters before pulling out of her second-round date with Pegula.

Halep, a five-time Grand Slam finalist with a French Open and a Wimbledon trophy on her mantelpiece, had her best US Open run in 2015, reaching the semis. But the 29-year-old has struggled at Flushing Meadows in recent years, losing twice in the first round and once in the second round in her past three visits.

Giorgi is a modest 21-14 in Grand Slam first-round matches, but has won her last four.

The pair have met just once previously, Halep coming away with a 6-4 7-5 victory at the 2015 Miami Masters.

Fully fit, Halep would be tough to back against. But she won’t be able to ease into the tournament with Giorgi on the other side of the net and this shapes as a fascinating duel. I’m leaning towards Halep’s experience on the big stage to ultimately prove decisive, but expect it to go three sets.

Tip: Total Sets – Over 2.5 @ $2.15