US Open Day 5 Predictions Including Coco Gauff vs Paula Badosa

Day 5 at the 2026 US Open features top American Coco Gauff and other fan favorites like Naomi Osaka on the match card. Our panelists offer their previews and predictions for every matchup in men’s and women’s singles on Thursday.

Coco Gauff vs Paula Badosa

Tope: Paula Badosa arrives unbroken and battle-tested after grinding out nine match points against Daria Kasatkina, while Coco Gauff looks sharp but not yet dominant after a workmanlike win over Sonmez. With a 5-3 head-to-head edge and back-to-back wins over Gauff, including a comeback in Berlin, Badosa looks like the last player the fourth seed wants to see this early, but she should still advance in New York.

Prediction: Gauff in 3

Steen: 14-16 at tour level on the season, Badosa remains at least two years removed from her best tennis. Gauff has been dominant this summer, with just a loss to Rybakina in Toronto. Gauff should have a comfortable second round contest.

Prediction: Gauff in 2

Marie Bouzkova vs Harriet Dart

Tope: Harriet Dart holds the sole head-to-head win from a three-set battle at Eastbourne in 2024, though the pair have never met on a hard court before. Given Bouzkova’s ranking edge and hard-court form, the Czech should have enough firepower to avenge that grass-court defeat and reach round three.

Prediction: Bouzkova in 3

Steen: Bouzkova has already hit a career best for WTA wins this year. Dart has been quite strong in qualifying but has likely run out of road here despite holding the h2h edge.

Prediction: Bouzkova in 3

Tatjana Maria vs Nikola Bartunkova

Tope: This will be the first-ever tour meeting between both players, and while Bartunkova arrives in better form, the 39-year-old Maria will lean on craft, variety, and big-match nerve to try to spoil the Czech’s charge, and I think she can.

Prediction: Maria in 3

Steen: age 39, with 18 tour level wins this year, Maria is a marvel, Bartunkova, 20, is at a career high ranking and playing the best tennis of her life though. A semifinalist in Monterrey, she’s won 19 tour level matches this year and should be the fitter player who can outwit Maria.

Prediction: Bartunkova in 3

Iva Jovic vs Francesca Jones

Tope: 14th seed Iva Jovic faces Francesca Jones, who just gutted out a three-setter over Magda Linette. The American’s firepower should be too much for Jones to solve in her first taste of round-two Flushing Meadows heat. Jovic in two, but don’t expect Jones to go quietly after that kind of grinder to get here.

Prediction: Jovic in 2

Steen: 32-18 and at a career high ranking, there’s a lot to think positively about when it comes to Jovic right now. Fran Jones came through qualifying and is looking to return to the top 100. Jones is not an easy opponent to beat, but Jovic has a more versatile game.

Prediction: Jovic in 2

Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Click here to read article