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2017 WTA U.S. OPEN PREVIEW

8/27/2017

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This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 22a

Welcome to the WTA U.S. Open preview edition of  "This Week in Tennis." ​The world #1 ranking is again up for grabs this fortnight in New York: Karolina Pliskova is in current possession of the top spot, but as many as eight other women are mathematically in with a shot at supplanting her by tournament's end. Defending champion, Angelique Kerber, arrives in Flushing Meadows everything but the favourite; Wimbledon champion, Muguruza, is the odds-maker's top pick to win and score back-to-back Slam titles. 

​This preview will give a rundown of the top eight seeds, players to watch, intriguing first round matches, plus a collection of tennis writing and podcasts from the past week. 
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WTA SINGLES DRAW

(1) Karolina Pliskova

Best Result: F - 2016
2016 Result: F - Kerber 

Pliskova arrives at the U.S. Open as the top seed for the first time in her career, looking to build on a career-best Slam performance last year in New York when she finished runner-up to Angelique Kerber. She'll face the typical questions asked of someone in her position: can she handle the added pressure of being #1? Is she ready to take the next step in her career and hoist a maiden Slam trophy? Can she hold off a slew of challengers for her top ranking? 


(2) Simona Halep

Best Result: SF - 2015
2016 Result: QF - S. Williams

More than any other player in both draws, Simona Halep has a lot of obstacles to overcome during the next fortnight. While she has the momentum of reaching the semifinals in Toronto and the finals in Cincinnati, both tournaments ended with lopsided and lackluster losses. She also carries the baggage of failing to win her first Slam title at the French Open this year, after being a set and a break up in the final against Ostapenko. Halep could also find herself with the top ranking on her racquet for a fourth time this year with a deep run in New York. First up, though, she has the not-so-small misfortune of drawing Sharapova in the first round. 


(3) Garbiñe Muguruza

Best Result: 2R - 2015, 2016
2016 Result: 2R - Sevastova

Despite a 2-4 career record in New York, and having never gone past the second round, Muguruza enters this year's tournament as the big favourite. After an indifferent first half of the season, Muguruza has come on strong since winning Wimbledon and parlaying that success into a consistent hard court swing ahead of the U.S. Open. The Spaniard made the semis in Stanford, quarterfinals in Toronto, and capped her run with a Cincinnati title that saw her beat the top two seeds (Pliskova and Halep) as well as Kuznetsova and Keys. 

(4) Elina Svitolina

​Best Result: 3R - 2015, 2016
2016 Result: 3R - Kvitova

Svitolina is the most accomplished 22-year-old on the WTA Tour. For someone so young, she's already won often and at some of the bigger tournaments just below the Grand Slam level. She has shown the ability to compete and beat the best players in the game; three of her WTA-leading five titles in 2017 have been at Premier events (Dubai, Rome, and Toronto). That she has made only two career Slam quarterfinals is likely a function of still being so young: the talent is there, and her quality of results suggests it is only a matter of time before she has a big Slam breakthrough. The hard courts of Flushing Meadows seem as good a place as any. 
​(5) Caroline Wozniacki

Best Result: F - 2009, 2014

2016 Result: SF - Kerber

Wozniacki returns to the site of her greatest Grand Slam successes a totally different player from one year ago. Ahead of the 2016 event, Wozniacki was mired in a months-long slump, ranked in the 70s, and a shadow of her former self. A semifinal run last year kickstarted a revival, and she returns a year on seeded #5 and having made six finals in 2016. She's made two finals in New York, and a further three semis in her career. Given the much talked about wide open field, Wozniacki's chances are as good as anybody's. That said, she faces a tough draw with Venus Williams (0-7 lifetime) and Muguruza in her quarter. 

(6) Angelique Kerber

Best Result: W - 2016

2016 Result: W

​What a year for Angelique Kerber. After experiencing the extreme highs of winning two Slams last year and an Olympic silver medal, Kerber has flown in a much lower orbit in 2017: to date, she has yet to make it past the fourth round in three Slams, whereas she made three Slam finals last year. Her #1 ranking is gone too, ceded to Karolina Pliskova in July. But, despite a mere 25-17 match record on the season, Kerber has another shot to recapture some of her best form, and she will be tested immediately by Naomi Osaka in the first round. 

(7) Johanna Konta

Best Result: 4R - 2015, 2016

2016 Result: 4R - Sevastova

Jo Konta has turned in a solid follow-up to her breakout season last year: she won Miami and Sydney, made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, and survived the British media circus on her way to the semifinals at Wimbledon. As a result, Konta achieved her a career best #4 ranking in July, and currently sits at #7 heading into the U.S. Open. Her summer hard court results have been unspectacular (QF in Cincinnati, and first round in Toronto), but Konta remains one of the top hard court ballers on the WTA Tour. In her path at Flushing: an in-form Goerges in the third, this week's Connecticut finalist Cibulkova in the fourth, and Halep in the quarters. 


(8) Svetlana Kuznetsova

Best Result: W - 2004

2016 Result: 2R - Wozniacki

The 2004 champion is fresh off her first Slam quarterfinal since 2014 (Wimbledon), and has been firmly entrenched in the top 10 for a year now. As has been said and written many times before, especially at The Body Serve, Kuznetsova has the pedigree to beat anybody on any given day. She has the top seed in her quarter, and the winner of Vandeweghe/Radwanska likely in her fourth round. To get there, though, she will have to get by a tricky first rounder in Marketa Vondrousova. 


TOP 32 SEEDS
1. Pliskova
2. Halep
3. Muguruza
4. Svitolina
5. Wozniacki
6. Kerber
7. Konta
8. Kuznetsova
​
9.  V. Williams
10. Radwanska
11. Cibulkova
12. Ostapenko
13. Kvitova
14. Mladenovic
15. Keys
​16. Sevasatova
17. Vesnina
18. Garcia
19. Pavlyuchenkova
20. Vandeweghe
21. Konjuh
22. Peng
23. Strycova
​24. Bertens
25. Gavrilova
26. Kontaveit
27. Zhang
28. Tsurenko
29. Lucic-Baroni
30. Goerges
31. Rybarikova
​32. Davis

PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • Venus Williams - The elder Williams has reached two Slam finals in 2017, something she hasn't done since 2003. Furthermore, she has been the most consistent Slam performer over the past two seasons, making the second week in six consecutive Slams.
  • Ashleigh Barty - The young Aussie is having a breakout year in singles. She won her first title in Kuala Lumpur, followed by a finals showing in Birmingham. Barty has wins over Garbine Muguruza and Venus Williams this year, but draws Ana Konjuh in a tricky opener.
  • Sloane Stephens - After losing in the first round of her first two events back, Stephens made back-to-back semis in Toronto and Cincinnati. 
  • Madison Keys - The Stanford champ has been swinging for the fences, taking Muguruza to three tough sets in Cincinnati, holding -- and losing -- three match points. Her huge hitting, if consistent enough, could take her far. 
  • Maria Sharapova - The 2006 champ has missed the last six Slams and will be eager to get back on one of the game's biggest stages. She will have to be in good form right away, however, as she draws #2 Simona Halep in the first round. 
  • Ekaterina Makarova - One of the hottest players on tour, winning Washington and scoring hardcourt wins over Halep, Konta, and Kerber along the way. The lefty always seems to raise her game at Slams and is your definitive darkhorse/unseeded player to avoid if you are a top seed.

FIRST ROUND INTRIGUE

(2) Halep vs Sharapova
(6) Kerber vs Osaka
Niculescu vs. (14) Mladenovic
Riske vs. (20) Vandeweghe
(26) Kontaveit vs. Safarova
(4) Svitolina vs. Siniakova
Mertens vs. (15) Keys
(13) Kvitova vs. Jankovic
Watson vs. Cornet
(21) Konjuh vs. Barty
Stephens vs. Vinci

TOURNAMENT NOTES

  • The 2017 edition will be the first U.S. Open missed by Serena Williams since 2010. She has made at least the semifinals in the last eight Opens she's contested.
  • Eight women have a statistical chance to gain the no. 1 ranking after the U.S. Open, all the way down to current no. 9 Venus Williams.

Entertainment and sport come together in Harlem @adidasoriginals @adidastennis @pharrell #adidaspharellwilliams ✌?️

A post shared by Garbiñe Muguruza (@garbimuguruza) on Aug 26, 2017 at 4:57pm PDT

Thank you to the @Mets for inviting me to throw the 1st pitch for tonights game □. A pleasure to meet @You_Found_Nimmo & the team ⚾️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/bqhQ84OzKi

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) August 22, 2017

I fell asleep on the fight yesterday but I think the baby watched it cause this evening I feel like I am taking lefts and rights.... □□

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 28, 2017

Photoshoot for @pastaiga_magazine #me#model#lookinggreat#loveit#magazine#riga#latvia#2017

A post shared by Jelena Ostapenko (@jelena.ostapenko1997) on Aug 22, 2017 at 12:23pm PDT

Wow. I really wish this picture never saw the light of day □ https://t.co/A81ExsD9qv

— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) August 27, 2017

Winning feels! What a crazy battle! First title □ thank you all for the kind messages! pic.twitter.com/JY9AHP1hlF

— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) August 27, 2017

Taught Rafa a thing or two about badminton □ #palaceperks #lottenewyorkpalaceinvitational @newyorkpalace

A post shared by Venus Williams (@venuswilliams) on Aug 26, 2017 at 1:26pm PDT

New York get-together with one of my dearest friends @anaivanovic □□□□

A post shared by Angelique Kerber (@angie.kerber) on Aug 25, 2017 at 1:16pm PDT

When #1 meets #1! □Czech represent!!! □□ #pojd□□#proud #jsme #nejlepsi #cesko @karolinapliskova

A post shared by Lucie Safarova (@lucie.safarova) on Aug 27, 2017 at 10:08am PDT

#NewYork these streets will make you feel brand newwwwwwww □ pic.twitter.com/Y5BR2hquXi

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) August 25, 2017

When you've been on the road for a really long time, so you decide to do something different and hit the beach! □

A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@petra.kvitova) on Aug 24, 2017 at 4:40pm PDT


ON THE WEB

Think Tennis Is the Most Gender-Equal Sport? Here's Why That's a Problem
Restoring A Landmark For African American Tennis Stars
​The Most Intimate -- And Potentially Terrifying -- Job In Tennis: An Emcee
​U.S. Open offers chance to marvel at Venus Williams' skill and grace — and to ignore her age
​Women’s Tennis Still Awaits Its Next Age of Rivalries
​Patty Schnyder Brings a New Outlook and a New Family on Tour
​U.S. Open Women's Preview: Garbine Muguruza Or The Field?
​Venus Williams Will Be Playing For Herself And Serena At U.S. Open
​Venus Williams Is In The Top 10. Stop Taliing About Her Age
​Tennis commentator Doug Adler speaks out on Venus Williams remark: I'm not a racist

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - US Open Preview: Where My Boys At?
​
WTA Insider - US Open Preview: Who will leave New York at No.1?
No Challenges Remaining - Paul Annacone and Giri Nathan
Beyond The Baseline - Rod Laver on inaugural Laver Cup
Realz Tenis Fanz - ​It’s a Serena Baby Shower US Open 2017 Draw Show Event
Tennis.com - Pre-U.S. Open Potpourri
Tennis Connected - With Cincinnati Complete, it’s Time for the US Open
​
Tennis Nerd Podcast - MASSIVE US OPEN MEGA-PREVIEW! WITH MATT ZEMEK!
​
Thirty Love - Tracy Austin on US Open and Tennis's Old Stars
​
Lucky Loser Podcast - I Know What A Birthday Is

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  • Home
  • THE BODY SERVE TENNIS PODCAST
  • Selected Writing
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