Fearless Forecast - US Open 2010 Women's Singles

Serena and Justine have withdrawn from the event but the field still looks very crowded!  Without looking at the draws, Clijsters and Wozniacki look like the women most likely to lift the trophy, with Sharapova and Kuznetsova on the second tier.  However, the draw changes the mix a bit.  Here is my analysis per section of the draw:

Upper First Half:

This is the most crowded part of the draw and this is where 3 of my bets to lift trophy are situated in!  Wozniacki, deservedly the #1 seed, has her hands full since this section of the draw has so many Russians in it.  Although not quite the force they were years ago, there is usually one of them who gets deep into the Slams, and I won't be surprised if one of them goes the distance again.  On paper, Wozniacki may have to defeat three very feisty Russians just to get to the final, Sharapova first, then Kuznetsova in the QFs, then Zvonareva in the semi's before possibly meeting Clijsters in the final. Tough tough draw for her!  Li Na is also in her side of the draw, and she has been performing consistently in all the slams and might meet Caroline in the quarters too.  Wozniacki really has to prove that she is the number one seed in this event!!

Lower First Half

This section of the draw can produce a surprise semi-finalist since both Jankovic and Zvonareva have histories of being erratic players.  But still, I will pick Zvonareva to top this draw since she did well in Montreal, where she lost the final to Caroline.  She may have to beat Radwanska and Wickmayer, both competent players, just to reach the semi's.  Kanepi should be able to handle Jankovic, and if not, there's Wickmayer, so I doubt if Jelena can go deep this time.  Petrova is another dangerous floater and may also meet Zvonareva.  Radwanska is the dark horse in this section but she still has to prove herself in the slams, but this is a good chance for her!

Semi-final pick Upper Draw: Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

Upper Lower Half

In my opinion, the weakest section of the draw for this slam and can possibly produce a surprise semi-finalist.  I am picking Victoria Azarenka to top this draw but she has no Slam pedigree yet except for I think, two QFs.  Venus is in this section but she has been absent this hard court season AND Pironkova is in her section of the draw!  The only woman to defeat her twice in a Grand Slam!  Will Tszvetana go for 3-0?  We'll see. Battle lines on paper are drawn on the 3rd round.  Oudin, Schiavone, Pavlyuchenkova and Pennetta are some dark horses too but except for Schiavone, none of them have Slam pedigree, and this is not clay.  If Venus wins over Pironkova, she could meet Azarenka in the quarters, but I think Victoria is already hungry for some Grand Slam honors.

Lower Second Half

Clijsters is my heavy favorite in this section of the draw but there are many dangerous floaters around, but are not quite playing well this hard court season.  Dementieva may reach the quarters if she handles Stosur, since this is not clay anymore.  Safina too who is making a slow comeback can reach the quarters.  Clijsters may have to beat either Ivanovic or Bartoli to reach her quarters.  She also has Wozniak and Kvitova in her section of the draw so it's not going to be easy for her too, although a much easier set of opponents than Caroline. 

Lower Half Semi-Final Picks:  Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

On Elena Dementieva

My favorite player, Elena Dementieva is luckily given a manageable draw this time.  She should handle Bammer fine, and since Safina is erratic, she may go through her.  Stosur is her main opponent in her section of the draw and has defeated her on clay, but this is the hard court and both have not been playing really well this season.  Still, Elena has more Slam experience, especially here in the US Open.  Can she reach the semi's?  Well, Clijsters had some form of injury in Montreal and it's still fresh, but Kim is a fighter so Elena has to really slug it out just to reach the semi's this time.

My Pick for the Final: Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

Caroline has had a very strong hard court season and should win this handily.  But I think she is playing too much and may not have enough gas to last the two weeks!  She is even playing this week again in New Haven!  She doesn't want to rest, I think!  She has been playing the last three weeks, prior to the US Open.  What else does she want to prove?  My sentimental favorite is Kim who has a chance to defend her title, since Serena is not around.  I hope she does.  She is a feisty player and come back even when she's down. And she can take advantage of Caroline, being tired, since this is already the second week of the Slams.

Of course, anything can happen, and gauging from the Slams this year, there is usually two surprise semi-finalists who break out, and I hope it also happens here in Flushing Meadows!