One of the biggest tournaments on the Tennis circuit, the US Open will begin with the sports’ best vying to win another Grand Slam title.
Both world number ones for men and women will be closely watched on this stage. Serena Williams, is looking to complete the first calendar-year grand slam in 27 years, and Novak Djokovic who looks for some redemption after being beaten by Federer in Cincinnati, has been named the top seed for the men, when the U.S. Open championships starts on Monday in New York. With all the top 99 players in the World in the draw, it means this will be a fascinating tournament which takes place at Flushing Meadows.
Williams, is the winner of the last three U.S. women’s singles crowns at Flushing Meadows. Not far behind her on the seeding list at number two is Simona Halep of Romania, a 2014 French Open finalist and a player that has made a huge leap in status this year.
The agile Russian, Maria Sharapova, who is also the 2006 U.S. Open winner, comes in at third seed, with 2014 U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark coming in at fourth. Those names alone guarantee an exciting tournament on the women’s side whose tickets sold out faster than the mens.
On that side, we have five-times U.S. Open champion Roger Federer who is the second seed. The top-10 seeds when you look at them closely features five U.S. Open champions and six grand slam winners in all; so to say that there will be ‘hot competition’ would be an understatement to make.
Who are these champs? Well they will showcase 2011’s champion, Serb Djokovic, and Switzerland’s Federer who won 2004-08, it also lists former U.S. champions Andy Murray in 2012, and Rafael Nadal who won in 2010 and 20 13. And of course, last year’s surprise winner, Croatian, Marin Cilic.
Next down on the list after Djokovic and Federer is Scotland’s Murray who’s third, and Spaniard Nadal is who is eighth and Cilic, who is seeded ninth.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who was the runner-up last year to Cilic, is seeded fourth, positioned one spot above reigning French Open champion, Swiss Stan Wawrinka.
Those are the big names that will light up New York next week. But there are other prominent opponents who could make a run. In the women’s that would include fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova, the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion, who is followed by compatriot Lucie Safarova, who was a finalisr at this year’s French Open.
Belarussian Victoria Azarenka cannot be counted out as she was a U.S. Open finalist in 2012 and 2013, who is seeded 20th. Also there is the two time U.S. winner, Venus Williams seeded 23rd, and 2011’s champion Australian Samantha Stosur, sitting at 22nd in front of 2004’s U.S. Open champion, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova who’s seeded 30th.
What many local fans want to see is a victory for Serena Williams. That would make her only the fourth woman ever to sweep all four slams in a single season. She would join the ranks of Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988).
It would also be William’s seventh U.S. Open singles crown. That would break the American’s tie atop the all-time list that she currently shares with Chris Evert. It would also move her into a tie for second on the career grand slam singles list with Graf at 22, only two behind Court.
Williams told media she doesn’t feel the pressure of history on her shoulders and if that’s true then she could put another shining jewel in her crown, in reign over the courts.
Our Pick: S. Williams to win Women’s. And R. Federer to win Men’s.
