U.S. Open Women’s Draw

First Quarter (Serena’s Quarter)

Projected Quarterfinal: (1) Serena Williams vs. (8) Karolina Pliskova

First Round Match to Watch: (29) Sloane Stephens vs. Coco Vandeweghe
Young American to Watch: (19) Madison Keys

Dark Horse(s): (12) Belinda Bencic; Sloane Stephens

Third Round Popcorn Match: Serena Williams vs. Sloane Stephens

Women’s Sleeper: (23) Venus Williams

Three Things to Consider:

1. Can Serena Williams become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to complete the calendar year grand slam?
2. Can Belinda Bencic sustain the form that helped her take out 4 Top 10 en-route to the Rogers Cup title in Toronto?
3. Can Karolina Pliskova carry over her 2015 success at the WTA Tour events and make a deep run in New York?

Quarterfinal Prediction: Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams

Semifinalist: Serena Williams

Second Quarter (Ivanovic’s Quarter)

Projected Quarterfinal: (13) Ekaterina Makarova vs. (7) Ana Ivanovic

Beneficiary of Sharapova’s Withdrawal: (30) Svetlana Kuznetsova

First Round Popcorn Match: Ana Ivanovic vs. Dominika Cibulkova

Youngster to Watch: (17) Elina Svitolina

Huge Question Mark: (25) Eugiene Bouchard

Popcorn 3^rd Round Match: Elina Svitolina vs. Ekaterina Makarova

Three Things to Consider:

1. Who will benefit most from Maria Sharapova’s last minute withdrawal from the U.S. Open?
2. Will Eugiene Bouchard turn around her horrific 2015 season with a deep run at Flushing Meadows?
3. Can Ekaterina Makarova rekindle her to form that helped her reach the semifinals last year?

Quarterfinal Prediction: Elina Svitolina vs. Ana Ivanovic

Semifinalist: Elina Svitolina

Third Quarter (Wozniacki’s Quarter)

Projected Quarterfinal: (4) Caroline Wozniacki vs. (5) Petra Kvitova

Youngster to Watch: (32) Anna Karolina Schmiedlova

Huge Expectations: (9) Garbine Muguruza

First Round Upset Alert: (18) Andrea Petkovic vs. Caroline Garcia

Dark Horse: (22) Sam Stosur

Young American to Watch: Louisa Chirico

Three Things to Consider

1. After a rough summer, can Caroline Wozniacki make another final in the Big Apple?
2. How will Garbine Muguruza handle expectations after her Cinderella run to the Wimbledon final?
3. Can Petra Kvitova finally make a deep run at the major she has struggled mightily in her career?

Quarterfinal Prediction: Caroline Wozniacki vs. Petra Kvitova

Semifinalist: Caroline Wozniacki

Fourth Quarter (Halep’s Quarter)

Projected Quarterfinal: (2) Simona Halep vs. (6) Lucie Safarova

Dark Horse: (20) Victoria Azarenka

Hard-Hitting First Round Match: Victoria Azarenka vs Lucie Hradecka

First Round Popcorn Match: (14) Timea Bacsinzky vs. Barbora Strycova

Third Round Popcorn Match: (11) Angelique Kerber vs. Victoria Azarenka

Three Things to Consider

1. Can Simona Halep continue her success on hard courts and make her first U.S. Open final?
2. Will Victoria Azarenka rekindle the form that helped her reach two U.S. Open finals? 
3. Can Lucie Safarova continue her 2015 grand slam success in Flushing Meadows

Quarterfinal Prediction: Simona Halep vs. Victoria Azarenka

Semifinalist: Simona Halep

Semifinals

Serena Williams def. Elina Svitolina

Simona Halep def. Caroline Wozniacki

Final

Serena Williams def. Simona Halep