The 2019 US Open begins on Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. It is the last major of the calendar year. A chance to rewrite or reaffirm a tennis player’s narrative and season.
For two weeks, on the hard courts under the heat and humidity (though early weather forecasts look good) of late summer in the northeast, the best tennis players in the world will push themselves to the brink for one last chance at major glory in 2019.
BSO will be live on site during the tourney bringing you sights, sounds, and insight from the biggest names in the game. Today’s coverage will focus on the women’s draw.
The top 20 women’s seeds are as follows:
1. Naomi Osaka, Japan
2. Ashleigh Barty, Australia
3. Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic
4. Simona Halep, Romania
5. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
6. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic
7. Kiki Bertens, Netherlands
8. Serena Williams, United States
9. Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus
10. Madison Keys, United States
11. Sloane Stephens, United States
12. Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia
13. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland
14. Angelique Kerber, Germany
15. Bianca Andreescu, Canada
16. Johanna Konta, Great Britain
17. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic
18. Qiang Wang, China
19. Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark
20. Sofia Kenin, United States
It is very unlikely that the winner of this year’s US Open is not one of these 20 women. But this is sports, and stranger things have happened. On any day, anyone can be beat.
Since the birth of her daughter, Olympia, in 2017 23 time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams has “loosened” her grip on the major titles. Since she last won the Australian Open in 2017, 10 grand slams have been played and there has only been two women to win more than one slam. Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka.
To say that the women’s is wide open is a bit of an overstatement, but not too far off. The women have struggled to show consistency in the grand slams. To be fair, the women’s tour has a had a rash of bad injury luck. But there has been some inconsistent play as well.
First Round:
This should go according to seeding. But there are two matches that have piqued our interest.
Alison Riske vs. Garbine Mugaruza (24)
Riske is top 40 in the world and made her deepest run at a major during this year’s Wimbledon Championships. She defeated world #1 Ashleigh Barty to advance to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Serena Williams in three sets.
Mugaruza is a two-time Grand Slam Champion (’16 French, ’17 Wimbledon). She has struggled the last two years, losing her number one ranking and falling to #25.
Serena Williams (8) vs. Maria Sharapova
Does anything need to be said? Ok, we will.
Serena’s resume and legend speaks for itself, and Sharapova is a five-time Grand Slam Champion. Ironically, this will be the first time the two will play at the US Open. Too bad it’s the first round.
Potential Second Round:
Sloane Stephens (11) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova
The two just played in Cincinnati where Kuznetsova easily beat Stephens. Both are former grand slam champions, and Stephens reunited with her former coach Kamau Murray.
Venus Williams vs. Elina Svitolina (5)
Venus is tennis royalty. She is a seven-time grand slam champion, including two US Opens. Svitolina is playing the best tennis of her career. She won the 2018 year-end championship. She advanced to the semifinals of her first grand slam at Wimbledon.
Potential Third Round:
Naomi Osaka (1) vs. Coco Gauff
Gauff is the 15-year-old American sensation who stole the hearts of tennis fans with her run to the 4th round of the Wimbledon Championships. She has lofty goals and wants to be “the greatest of all time.” Osaka is returning to the scene of her first grand slam title (2018). She started the year off well, winning the Australian Open. She then parted ways with her coach, Sascha Bajin, and struggled with injuries and failed to advance past the third round in the French Open or Wimbledon; losing in the first round of the latter.
Quarterfinals Predictions:
Naomi Osaka (1) vs. Kiki Bertens (7)
Petra Kvitova (6) vs. Bianca Andreescu (15)
Karolina Pliskova (3) vs. Madison Keys (10)
Ashleigh Barty (2) vs. Serena Williams (8)
Semifinals Predictions:
Naomi Osaka (1) vs. Bianca Andreescu (15)
Madison Keys (10) vs. Serena Williams (8)
Finals Prediction:
Serena Williams (8) vs. Bianca Andreescu (15)
A rematch of the Rogers Cup Final that never was. Williams wins in three sets, earning her 24th grand slam title.
