US Open: Women's Preview - UBITENNIS

US Open: Women's Preview

By Staff
7 Min Read

TENNIS US OPEN – World number one and US Open Series winner Serena Williams is surely the name everyone expects to see on this year’s winner’s trophy. Giulio Gasparin

The Women’s singles draw

The Men’s singles draw

World number one and US Open Series winner Serena Williams is surely the name everyone expects to see on this year’s winner’s trophy, but the American is yet to reach a slam quarter final in this 2014 and this will be her last chance.

Surely other players will take a chance to lift the last slam of the season and surprises are not to be excluded.

Top Quarter:

Serena Williams opens her run against one of the most discussed youngsters, Taylor Townsend, which potentially could be her hardest match until the fourth round.

Carla Suarez Navarro is the seeding favourite, but Sam Stosur has won here in the past and Cali girl Coco Vandeweghe has showed great skills over the summer.

Two potentially difficult opponents in the fourth round could be Ana Ivanovic, who beat Williams at the Australian Open this year, and Flavia Pennetta, last year’s semifinalist. But both will need to survive a difficult opener: Ivanovic will need to tame crowd’s favourite Alison Riske, while Pennetta will need to reverse a nightmarish summer against Julia Goerges.

QF prediction:

Serena Williams vs Ana Ivanovic

Interesting R1:

Ana Ivanovic vs Alison Riske

Earlier this year the Serb won in two tight sets, but the American is capable of beating big names in New York and her serve and volley can be tricky to handle, especially as a first round match.

Second Quarter:

Before New Haven the two finalists of Wimbledon and highest seeds of this session had won one match between the two, with Eugenie Bouchard winning her first match of the American summer only last week, while Petra Kvitova conquered her second title in New Haven.

Both players have never reached the quarter finals in New York and will need to watch out from some dangerous floaters like Madison Keys, Elina Svitolina, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ekaterina Makarova.

Each of these players and some others have big chances of advancing to the quarter finals. Quite in danger despite their seeding are the two time finalist Victoria Azarenka, still recovering from injury, and Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova, who seems unable to pick up her form after a stunning early season.

QF prediction:

Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Elina Svitolina

Interesting R1:

Heather Watson vs Sorana Cirstea

Both players could be quite hot and cold, but, when they find their best days, they can easily make you forget about big names. Their tennis is rich of variations and though the Romanian has the most power, Watson is capable of great defence.

3rd quarter:

Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska dominate this session of the draw and it seems very hard to look past these two. Both have showed a good form over the summer, but the Pole, despite the fourth seed, looks to be a little less of a favourite, especially given the fact that she has never reached the second week in New York.

Lucie Safarova could be the dangerous outsiders in the session, while Alize Cornet, Jelena Jankovic and Sloane Stephens will need to improve their recent level of game to pose a threat.

QF prediction:

Angelique Kerber vs Agnieszka Radwanska

Interesting R1:

Sloane Stephens vs Annika Beck

The clash of styles will be evident from the early points, but the solid game of the German could force the American to play her best tennis if she wants to advance.

Belinda Bencic vs Yanina Wickmayer

Bencic is the youngest player in the top 100 and Wickmayer, despite her recent bad form, is always a great fighter, this match could provide great entertainment.

Bottom quarter:

The most packed quarter of the draw this year comes at the very bottom, with two big favourites for the title and another dark horse: Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep seem to be set for the fourth meeting of the year, with the world number two still looking for the first win over the French Open champion.

A new chapter of this rivalry could be belated by Caroline Wozniacki, who seems back to a good level after the breakup with golfer Rory McIlroy and has twice challenge closely Serena Williams in the past weeks. The Dane looks fit and focused and her special relationship with New York could motivate even more.

Venus Williams, Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki are also looking tough ahead of this event, making this the strongest session of the draw.

QF prediction

Caroline Wozniacki vs Simona Halep

Interesting R1:

Caroline Wozniacki vs Magdalena Rybarikova

The Dane’s form as a potential outsider is immediately tested by New Haven’s finalist.

Kimiko Date-Krumm vs Venus Williams

Over 30 one, over 40 the other and yet both are still capable of some of the finest tennis on the tour, it could be a classic.

Sabine Lisicki vs Francoise Abanda

The young Canadian is having a breakthrough summer and lost only six games in three qualification matches, the WTA fastest server will need many of her big serves to win this one.

 

Leave a comment