Women to watch at the US Open, which begins Monday:
SERENA WILLIAMS
Seeded: 1
Age: 34
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 33-5
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 71
Major Titles: 22 – U.S. Open (’99, ’02, ’08, ’12, ’13, ’14), Wimbledon (’02, ’03, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’15, ’16), Australian Open (’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’15), French Open (’02, ’13, ’15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’15-Lost in Semifinals, ’14-Won Championship, ’13-W, ’12-W, ’11-Lost in Final.
Topspin: A year ago, came within two victories of first calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf’s in 1988, but lost to Roberta Vinci in U.S. Open semifinals. … Part of Williams’ year’s wait for her 22nd major singles title, which she got at Wimbledon last month, equaling Graf’s Open-era record. Now seeks No. 23 at Flushing Meadows. … Can become first woman with seven US Open titles in professional era. … Will tie Graf’s record of 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in WTA rankings, but could drop from top spot after US Open.
ANGELIQUE KERBER
Seeded: 2
Age: 28
Country: Germany
2016 Match Record: 47-14
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 9
Major Titles: 1 – Australian Open (’16)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’15-3rd, ’14-3rd, ’13-4th, ’12-4th, ’11-SF.
Topspin: Could have overtaken Serena Williams at No. 1 in the rankings by winning title on hard courts in Cincinnati this month, but lost in the final. Has another chance to move up to No. 1 for first time, depending on U.S. Open results. … Very first Grand Slam semifinal appearance came at Flushing Meadows five years ago. … Beat Williams in Australian Open final in January, then lost to her in Wimbledon final in July. … Won silver medal at Rio Olympics.
GARBINE MUGURUZA
Seeded: 3
Age: 22
Country: Spain
2016 Match Record: 28-13
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: 1 – French Open (’16)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’15-2nd, ’14-1st, ’13-Did Not Play, ’12-1st, ’11-DNP.
Topspin: Won first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, beating Serena Williams in the final. … One of three players who could take over from Williams at No. 1 after the U.S. Open. … Has a 1 -3 career record in New York, but her flat strokes and fearless style should work on the Flushing Meadows hard courts.
VENUS WILLIAMS
Seeded: 6
Age: 36
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 21-11
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 49
Major Titles: 7 – U.S. Open (’00, ’01), Wimbledon (’00, ’01, ’05, ’07, ’08).
Last 5 US Opens: ’15-QF, ’14-3rd, ’13-2nd, ’12-2nd, ’11-2nd.
Topspin: Bowed out of Rio Olympics in first round of singles and doubles, but stuck around for mixed doubles and wound up earning a bronze medal with Rajeev Ram. … Experienced something of a renaissance at Wimbledon, making it to the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2010 US Open. … Last year at Flushing Meadows, made it to the quarterfinals before losing to her younger sister Serena.
MADISON KEYS
Seeded: 8
Age: 21
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 34-11
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 2
Major Titles: 0 – Best: SF, Australian Open (’15).
Last 5 U.S. Opens: ’15-4th, ’14-2nd, ’13-1st, ’12-DNP, ’11-2nd.
Topspin: Coming off a semifinal run at the Rio Olympics and now settled into the top 10. … Her power-based game, built around a big serve and forehand, would seem to be better suited to the U.S. Open’s hard courts than her results have shown. … Pulled out of the Connecticut Open tuneup tournament the week before Flushing Meadows with a bad neck.
PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 14
Age: 26
Country: Czech Republic
2016 Match Record: 25-17 (playing in Connecticut Open)
2016 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 17
Major Titles: 2 – Wimbledon (’11, ’14).
Last 5 US Opens: ’15-QF, ’14-3rd, ’13-3rd, ’12-4th, ’11-1st.
Topspin: The US Open is the only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn’t reached the semifinals. … Won a bronze medal in singles at the Rio Olympics, looking quite comfortable on a slow hard court. – AP
