The women’s US Open might be missing a number of star names who have taken the decision to give the tournament a swerve in light of the way the world is at present, but we should still be in for a wonderful two weeks as the second Grand Slam of the year takes place in New York.
One of those players who isn’t appearing this year is last year’s champion Bianca Andreescu so we are guaranteed a different winner of the tournament and with a fairly open feel to it, a competitive event lies in store as Serena Williams aims for Slam number 24.
Recent Winners
2019 – Bianca Andreescu
2018 – Naomi Osaka
2017 – Sloane Stephens
2016 – Angelique Kerber
2015 – Flavia Pennetta
2014 – Serena Williams
2013 – Serena Williams
2012 – Serena Williams
2011 – Sam Stosur
2010 – Kim Clijsters
The Format
The normal Grand Slam rules apply to the women’s draw too in that 128 ladies qualify for the tournament and are placed in a knockout draw which was revealed on Friday. The entire tournament is the best of three sets with a tiebreak in the final set at 6-6 should it be needed. The winner is crowned on the second Saturday evening inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium assuming the weather cooperates.
Top Quarter
With the likes of Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep not playing this year it is Karolina Pliskova who is the number one seed for this fortnight and she is in the top quarter as a result. Pliskova is a former finalist here and remarkably she is the only member of the top 14 in the rankings in this quarter of the draw. Petra Martic is the second highest seed in the section with the other six seeded players being Jennifer Brady, Angelique Kerber, Alison Riske, Marketa Vondrousova, Yulia Putintseva and Kiki Mladenovic.
There isn’t too many household names among the unseeded players in this section. Australian player Alja Tomljanovic is about the pick of them with Caroline Garcia the other one who stands out. Catherine Bellis is another but in truth this is a very open section which could have a very lowly ranked winner if anything should happen to Pliskova in the early rounds. This could bring about some competitive matches.
Second Quarter
The 2018 champion Naomi Osaka is the highest seed in the second quarter and based on the early part of last week she would have been a leading fancy for this tournament but having pulled out of the Cincinnati final with a hamstring injury I’m not sure I’d be wanting to take the chance on her anymore. Petra Kvitova is the second highest seed but she hasn’t been past the quarter final here. She was the Australian Open finalist last year though so represents a decent challenge for Osaka. The other six seeds in this section are Rebecca Peterson, Danaya Yastremska, Elena Rybakina, Anett Kontaveit, Magda Linette and Anastasija Sevastova.
There are some very good unseeded players in this quarter with Coco Gauff likely to be the one to gain much of the attention. Camila Giorgi is a player who can do some damage while Daria Kasatkina has a good chance this week to put her career back on the right path after a slow period. Danielle Collins made the semi-final of the Australian Open last season and she’s in this quarter while Shelby Rogers and Jessica Pegula will be looking to put up a home challenge.
Third Quarter
Serena Williams will begin her quest for number 24 from the third quarter of the draw. She is a warm favourite to come through it but the 2017 finalist Madison Keys could be a formidable opponent in the quarter final if everything goes to the draw. Shuai Zhang is among the seeded players in this section with the others being Donna Vekic, Garbine Muguruza, Maria Sakkari, Amanda Anisimova and the 2017 champion Sloane Stephens in what looks like a very strong quarter.
There are plenty of decent unseeded players in this third quarter too. Olympic champion Monica Puig is one of them while Kristina Pliskova is another one. Alize Cornet and Lauren Davis are both capable of good things on the tennis court with Timea Babos and Mihaela Buzarnescu two other players who have had loftier positions in the world rankings but who could easily do themselves a favour with a few wins here.
Bottom Quarter
It is the Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin who is the highest seed in the bottom quarter of the draw. She is looking for successive Grand Slam titles but won’t have it all her own way in this section. Arnya Sabalenka is the other leading seed in the quarter but the other six all have skills that can get the job done. They are Veronika Kudermetova, Karolina Muchova, Jo Konta, Elise Mertens, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Ons Jabeur so this will be no walk in the park for Kenin.
The unseeded players are a case of the old and the new and they complement the seeds in this section quite nicely. Recently crowned Cincinnati champion Viktoria Azarenka is in this quarter as are veterans Yanina Wickmayer and Vera Zvonareva. Kaia Kanepa and Venus Williams also fit the elder player while the younger brigade include Caty McNally and Iga Swiatek among others. The entertaining Taylor Townsend is also in this quarter while there is also a place in the draw for Kim Clijsters.
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Outright Betting
Going into the tournament Victoria Azarenka was my fancied bet but all the value on her has gone since she won Cincinnati so I’ll look elsewhere with Petra Kvitova my fancy from the top half of the draw. Naomi Osaka was in good form during the Cincinnati event but having to pull out of the final was pretty extreme and that makes me think there could be value on Petra Kvitova at 20/1. Osaka aside, and if we believe she may not go the course and distance, there is only Karolina Pliskova who is ranked above Kvitova on the top half of the draw. It isn’t ideal that Kvitova lost in the first round last week but she didn’t seem too worried about the situation in her social media posts and we know this twice major champion knows how to win the big events. She has a bit serve which could be a weapon this week and with a kind draw I expect her to go well.
I’ll also take last year’s quarter finalist Elise Mertens who has already showcased her talents here in New York when she made the semi-final last week. She lost out in a tight second set of the semi-final to Naomi Osaka on that occasion but there is clearly something about Flushing Meadows that brings out the best in her. Mertens actually led the eventual winner Andreescu by a set in the quarter final but the Canadian proved too strong in the end. The Belgian looks a much stronger player now and although she is in a tough section of the draw, the chances of it opening up with all the unknowns around this event shouldn’t be underestimated. At 25/1 she could be overpriced.
Quarter Betting
If you want to oppose Karolina Pliskova like I do you could literally pick any of the other 31 runners in the top quarter and you should get a run for your money it is that wide open but in the end I’ve decided to take the American star Alison Riske to come through. When Petra Martic is the second highest seed in the quarter despite only having ever gone past the fourth round of a Grand Slam once you know it is an open section. Riske beat Garbine Muguruza here last year and was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open prior to that. Her record here isn’t the greatest but you’ll have to go pretty deep in this quarter to find someone who has a good record here. At 15/1 Riske is overpriced in a completely wide open section.
I’m reluctant to bet in the third quarter as I think Serena Williams could make it number 24 this week but when you consider she is on course for a third round meeting with Sloane Stephens there is no guarantee that Serena does come through. I suspect conditions will favour her but she could run into Maria Sakkari in the last 16 for the second tournament in succession. The Greek woman beat Serena last week and did it fair and square so it wouldn’t be a total shock if she does it again here, especially if Serena is involved in a lengthy tussle with Stephens in the round before. Sakkari didn’t just beat Serena last week, she overcame Coco Gauff and Yulia Putintseva as well and they are decent opponents. I think Sakkari might have got what she wanted out of last week and at 11/1 I’ll pay to see if she can come through this quarter.
Tips
Back P.Kvitova to win US Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with BetVictor (1/2 1-2)
Back her here:
Back E.Mertens to win US Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Sky Bet (1/2 1-2)
Back A.Riske to win 1st Quarter for a 1/10 stake at 16.00 with 888sport
Back her here:
Back M.Sakkari to win 3rd Quarter for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 with Bet365
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