Mananchaya Sawangkaew vs Panna Udvardy Prediction U.S. Open - New York · Aug 31, 2026

Analysis

Panna Udvardy arrives in New York with genuine main-draw mileage behind her, having pushed Elise Mertens to three sets on 27 August before falling 1-2 — a competitive loss against an established tour player rather than a collapse. That kind of hard-court rhythm matters in a first-round assignment, especially in the noisy, high-tempo conditions of Flushing Meadows. Mananchaya Sawangkaew is the less familiar name at this level and will need to handle both the occasion and the pace of the court from the very first ball. Udvardy's heavier forehand and willingness to take the ball early suit quick hard courts, and she should be the one dictating patterns in the longer rallies. The main route to an upset is a nervy start from Udvardy, whose level can dip when the first serve deserts her, and Sawangkaew has the counter-punching profile to exploit a flat opening set. On balance the Hungarian is the clear favourite, but a dropped set is a live possibility rather than a remote one.