#SmashTalk: Halep or Sharapova at US Open?

Published by Tennismash

Maria Sharapova (R) holds a 6-0 winning record over Simona Halep, a series that includes the Roland Garros final of 2014 (pictured); Getty Images
In the pick of the US Open first-round matches, Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova will duke it out at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Who’ll win? The SmashTalk panel gives its thoughts.

It’s the match we’re all waiting for.

Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova will kick off the night session on Monday evening in New York, ensuring the US Open begins with a bang on its opening day. The only thing is, it’s an incredibly hard result to pick.

The Tennismash team of Vivienne Christie, Matt Trollope, Leigh Rogers and debutant Bede Briscomb give their predictions as well as discussing the fallout from Andy Murray’s withdrawal and the plight of seeds with tough paths to the title.

Agree or disagree with our panel? Have your say on Facebook and Twitter using #SmashTalk.

What did you make of the backlash Andy Murray received for pulling out of the US Open after the draw was made, meaning it was unable to be reshuffled to allow for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer being placed in opposite halves?

Christie: Of course it was unfortunate timing for the US Open and the fans craving another Rafael Nadal v Roger Federer final but you can’t hardly criticise Andy Murray’s actions. The late notice was all about giving himself the best chance to compete – which is what we should expect from an athlete in such an individual sport of tennis. If there’s a criticism, surely it’s with a system that doesn’t allow seedings to be reshuffled when the event is still days out from beginning?

Trollope: I think it shone a light on the insane underbelly of tennis fandom. I’m sure the last thought on Murray’s mind when he withdrew from the tournament was how it would affect other players’ placement in the draw. Murray was simply hanging on as long as he could before he had to make an unpleasant decision because he was desperate to play and probably very close to doing so. The tournament loses out not because Federer and Nadal are not in opposite halves, but because yet another marquee name is now absent. Get well soon, Andy.

RELATED: Murray out of US Open with hip injury

Rogers: I can appreciate that Andy wanted to give himself as much time as possible to recover, but I can also see why fans are frustrated with the resulting unbalanced draw. The reality is late withdrawals are not uncommon – and it is the tournament who suffers when it is a top-seeded player. I’d like to see the tours introduce harsher penalties so if players are going to withdraw, they are more likely to make a decision before the draw is made.

Briscomb: Todd Woodbridge said Murray “ruined the US Open draw” and I agree. Roger and Rafa are the biggest draw cards in tennis and the fact that they’re both playing on the same day is underwhelming in an already underwhelming tournament. As far as Murray goes, I don’t blame him. If it was a calf or a knee Fedal fans would have a legitimate gripe but have you ever hurt your hip? I have. It’s a good-day bad-day injury that can genuinely feel better pretty quickly. He had to give himself every shot to play. One thing’s for sure: Marin Cilic should send him a thank-you card.

Who do you see winning the blockbuster first-round match between Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova, and why?

Christie: How do you call this one? Sharapova’s formidable 6-0 head-to-head record against Halep is neutralised by the fact that the last of those matches was at the WTA Finals two years ago. Still, I’m sticking with Maria. What better place for her famed resilience to kick in than at the big stage of a Grand Slam? Simona, on the other hand, doesn’t seem exactly steely: with two Grand Slam finals surrendered and the opportunity to become world No.1 passing three times now, she doesn’t exactly step up for the big occasions.

Trollope: I think Halep will prevail. Sharapova simply hasn’t played enough to have any kind of form or momentum, and even though she doesn’t traditionally need a lot of matches to find her groove, Halep is surely far too tough an opponent to meet first up. The No.2 seed hasn’t lost a first-round match in seven months and enjoyed an impressive US hardcourt build-up. She should be too battle-hardened and confident against a nevertheless dangerous foe.

PREVIEW: Halep v Sharapova in first-round blockbuster

Rogers: Wow, what a tough draw for both players. With Sharapova boasting an unbeaten record over Halep in six previous matches and a 10-0 first round record in New York, history suggests she is a chance. But the reality is Sharapova has barely played lately which gives Halep a huge advantage in match form and confidence. If Halep believes she can win and plays her best, this match should not live up to its blockbuster billing. Halep in straight sets.

Briscomb: Player A is a former world No.1 with 35 WTA titles including five Grand Slams and plays her best tennis on the biggest stage. Player A is one of the most mentally tough athletes tennis has ever seen and has spent the last 15 months hearing how her whole career was fluke and doesn’t deserve to play tennis again. Player B is ranked No.2 with zero major titles to back it up and won a total of three games in her most recent final and semifinal clashes to top-10 opponents. Is also notoriously fragile; she has three first-round Grand Slam flameouts in the last three years and is 0-6 against Player A.

Player A – all day, every day.

Which top-eight seed has been dealt the toughest path to the title?

Christie: It’s a tough path to a third US Open final for No.5 seed Caroline Wozniacki. While the first-round match against qualifier Mihaela Buzarenescu seems straightforward enough, she’d then face Ekaterina Makarova or Mona Barthel before a possible third round with AO2017 semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. The second week could see back-to-back meetings with Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza. Still, Wozniacki performs well at this Slam and I’d love to see her warming up for the battle.

Trollope: It’s none of the men, because there are barely any top players remaining in the draw to act as a road-block. Instead, I’d say it’s Elina Svitolina. The No.4 seed opens against the dangerous Katerina Siniakova – a recent winner in Bastad – before a potential second-round meeting with Eugenie Bouchard, who commonly gets up for big matches. Then it could be 25th seed Daria Gavrilova (last week’s New Haven champ) in round three and No.15 seed Madison Keys, who won in Stanford. She’ll have to be locked in from the very first ball.

DID YOU SEE? Gavrilova wins maiden WTA title in New Haven

Rogers: Angelique Kerber. The defending champion and No.6 seed has drawn big-hitting Naomi Osaka in the first round, so is no guarantee to even make the second round. With her section also including French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, American hope Madison Keys and in-form No.4 seed Elina Svitolina, the German’s title defence is going to be tough. An early loss will also see Kerber’s ranking fall outside of the world’s top 10, adding to the mounting pressure.

Briscomb: Federer. Tennis fans may love him but the tennis gods certainly don’t. Nursing a sore back, Roger is forced to face a litany of young energetic dudes that are thirsty for their first taste of Grand Slam success. He’s got a tricky first-round hurdle in American Francis Tiafoe, and then if all goes to plan, Feliciano Lopez, Nick Kyrgios/Juan Martin del Potro and Dominic Thiem to round out the quarter.

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