The fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year fast approaches, as we get set for another captivating installment of the US Open beginning this coming Monday, August 29.
Last year, a rather unfamiliar face was crowned champion of the women’s draw in Flavia Penetta. Will that be the case again this year considering that World No. 1 Serena Williams was denied her fourth-consecutive US Open title the last time out? Let’s find out the three front-runners in this highly-esteemed major tournament from Flushing Meadows.
For a glimpse of what’s about to go down on the ATP’s side of things, check out our US Open men’s singles favorites coverage right after this.
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Last year, Serena Williams failed to clinch her record-setting seventh US Open women’s singles title in the Open era and the first-ever Golden Calendar Slam since 1988 with an uncharacteristic semifinal exit at the hands of underdog Roberta Vinci. However, the oddsmakers have not left her for dead yet like the Cincinnati Zoo did Harambe (bless his soul) by still making her the overwhelming favorite to win it all again in Flushing Meadows this 2016.
And like the waves of hilarious memes honoring the late primate, Serena’s list of accolades in support of her WTA Tour supremacy knows no end. She’s won six US Open titles over the past 15 years – three-straight from 2012 to 2014 – and she’s just two major titles shy of tying the all-time record set by tennis legend Margaret Court.
Furthermore, Williams has an even bigger motivation to win in The Big Apple this week. She needs to reach the semifinal round of this year’s tournament at the very least to hang onto her No. 1 spot in the world rankings and prevent the next player on our list from seizing her throne that she has held since February of 2013.
Heavily breathing down Williams’ neck is World No. 2 Angelique Kerber, who almost captured the top spot of the world rankings last week if not for her straight-sets, final-round loss to Karolina Pliskova in Cincinnati.
Kerber also had another smashing runner-up finish of late, winning the silver medal in women’s singles competition in the Rio Olympics. Then again, the German standout must be tired of being simply being the second-best, and she’ll have a great opportunity to be the new queen of the WTA with a US Open victory or if Williams falters in the tournament early on.
Either way, you shouldn’t expect anything less than the best from the sensational 28-year-old in Flushing Meadows. Kerber already won the first hard court Grand Slam tournament this season (Australian Open), and you can bet that she’ll also be hellbent on avenging her crushing defeat to Williams in the Wimbledon final this past July.
Garbine Muguruza has not been able to sustain her great form after winning her first-ever major title at the French Open earlier this June. Still, her finals victory in Roland Garros over none other than Williams speaks volumes of her skill and tenacity in just a less than a decade as a pro.
It’s comforting to know as well that Muguruza has been able to bounce back quite nicely this past week to give her some sort of momentum heading into the US Open. She made it all the way to the semis in Cincinnati before falling to the tournament’s eventual champ, Pliskova.
A 1-3 career record at the US Open should not discourage you from banking on the up-and-coming 22-year-old. If anything, Muguruza is just entering her prime as we speak and a solid run at Flushing Meadows isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem. Having said that, don’t be surprised if this Spanish spark plug wins it all in New York as the only player to win two major titles this WTA season.
Writer’s Prediction
Williams (-140) beats her chest in triumphant ecstasy as she secures her seventh-career US Open title.
