Flushing Meadows, Monday, 16:30 UTC. Aoi Ito, ranked 369 and playing on a protected entry, walks out against Oksana Selekhmeteva, No. 93 and fresh from a deep run in Philadelphia. They met in Toronto barely three weeks ago, and the sound of that match — the dull thud of a sliced forehand skidding off the hard court — still hangs over this one.
One Player Rested, One Player Rattled
Ito's comeback comes in flashes. She dismantled Solana Sierra 6-1 6-1 in Cincinnati, timing the ball beautifully, then lost the next day to Harriet Dart 3-6 4-6 when her serve stopped protecting her. She has not played since, and she says the injury is mostly healed and her touch is coming back.
Selekhmeteva arrives with more matches in her legs and two Philadelphia comebacks, including 3-6 6-3 6-1 over Taylah Preston. But the last picture is unsettling: six set points handed back to Katie Volynets in the semifinal tiebreak. Her big swings need incoming pace, and Ito refuses to give any.
The Ball That Never Sits Up
In Toronto Ito took the first set 6-0 and Selekhmeteva unravelled into 15 double faults, still losing after saving the second set in a tiebreak. The lefty can correct that with patience, but her recent serving has been anything but calm. At this price, the rested disruptor is worth the ticket.
Prediction: Aoi Ito to win, odds 2.40
