By Russell Miller
The US Open is fast approaching, with the women’s singles draw coming out on Thursday. Following big wins for Simona Halep and Caroline Garcia of late, it is hard to predict who will triumph in the Big Apple.
While many of the big hitters can’t face off until the third round, there are several stellar names who the big seeds will want to avoid early in the tournament.
Naomi Osaka
2022 has been a roller coaster of a year for Naomi Osaka. Since reaching the Miami Open final, the two-time US Open champion has struggled with injury problems and has a losing record since playing in Madrid back in late April. However, there is no doubt that a fully fit Osaka is one of the most fearsome opponents on a hard court and considering that she has not gone a calendar year without winning a Major since 2017, all eyes will be on where she lands in Thursday’s draw.
Bianca Andreescu
Many people will be looking elsewhere for dangerous floaters in the draw, but Bianca Andreescu has shown glimpses of her Major winning form in 2022. After taking a break from tennis early in the season to protect her mental health, there was much concern about whether Andreescu would even return to tennis.
However, her results have been promising over the last few months and she certainly has the self-belief to back herself in matches against the very best players in the world.
Qinwen Zheng
It comes as no surprise that Qinwen Zheng is not the most talked about teenager in women’s tennis, considering the breakthroughs of Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff. However, the 19-year-old Chinese player has scored some exceptional wins this year over the likes of Simona Halep, Ons Jabeur and Bianca Andreescu. Zheng is currently at a career-high ranking of 40 and is projected to rise even further by the end of the season. The big names will be hoping to avoid Zheng early in the tournament, whose form on tour is accelerating at a rapid rate.
Angelique Kerber
Angelique Kerber may be approaching the twilight of her career, but the German remains a huge threat on a hard court. The 2016 US Open champion has not played a match during the US Open build-up, but her leftiness can still cause havoc to anyone. The last time Kerber was unseeded at a Grand Slam was in New York back in 2011, where she reached the semi-finals. If that statistic is anything to go by, the 3-time Major champion will be one to watch out for at this year’s event.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since the publication of this article Kerber has announced her withdrawal from the tournament due to pregnancy.
Serena Williams
This year’s US Open’s headlines will be dominated by one player in particular: Serena Williams. The American has hinted that the tournament will be the very last of her career and may have one last magical fortnight left in her. Despite a slightly concerning performance in Cincinnati where an ailing Williams lost handily to Emma Raducanu, the American will be ramped up by a boisterous New York crowd and should benefit from having a few matches under her belt. Once again, very few players will want to see the name S. Williams next to theirs in the US Open draw.
Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens is one of the five unseeded players who have triumphed before at the US Open. 2022 has been another topsy turvy year for the American, with a poor record besides her Guadalajara victory and Roland Garros quarter-final showing. Considering the shock she provided in 2017, where she won the US Open after recovering from foot surgery, Stephens will prove a tricky customer in the early stages in the final Slam of the season.
