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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

US Open 2016: Belinda Bencic Another Dark Horse Favorite


Even with Madison Keys and Garbine Muguruza on her side of the draw, using the current head-to-heads, Belinda Bencic is the player who has the best chance to get the semi-final slot on her side of the draw, after the official results of the first round has been finalized.

In fact, Bencic has to win over Pironkova in the second round, then possibly face Johanna Konta in the third round, then Muguruza in the 4th round and Keys in the QFs, if based on the head-to-head.  All those players are topnotch in talent and Bencic's plate is full.  

Anyhow, let's see if she fulfills her potential.

Monday, August 29, 2016

US Open 2016: Angelique Kerber Definitely A Huge Favorite


Angelique Kerber has had a silver-y summer, ending as runner-up in the Rio Olympics as well as in Cincinnati. That puts her as one of the main favorites to do well in this year's US Open.

And her side of the draw says she can do that! Her possible opponents are Alize Cornet, Shelby Rogers, Elina Svitolina and Dominika Cibukova.

She may meet Madison Keys in the semi's and possibly one of the Williams sisters in the finals.

Let's see if she can snare another grand slam title after winning the Australian Open earlier this year.

US Open 2016: Madison Keys on the Cusp of Grand Slam Glory


Madison Keys is definitely part of the future of women's tennis and she once again shows her potential by becoming the pick to get the semifinal slot on her side of the draw.

While the upper part of the draw saw the two veteran Williams sisters as draw favorites, the upper part of the lower draw sees another American as the pick, just through head-to-heads.

It's just going to take a matter of time before Madison Keys finally breaks through and win that grand slam title. She has been to the semifinal and quarterfinal of a grand slam already, and this year, she has consistently reached the fourth round of all the past three slams.

So she's really in there in the mix of the dark horse favorites to pull through, if all the stars align. Her side of the draw has some big names, including French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta, 2016 Olympic champion Monica Puig and two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

She might meet two of those before she proceeds to possibly meet Kerber in the semi's and possibly one of the Williams sisters in the final.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

US Open 2016: Venus Williams Still A Force to Reckon With


Venus Williams was actually one of the reasons why I began watching women's tennis when she debuted way back in 1997.

So it's quite astounding to see her still be able to top her side of the draw, almost 20 years later, just based on head-to-head alone, when her draw includes talented players like Karolina Pliskova, Kristina Mladenovic, Eugenie Bouchard and Agnieszka Radwanska.

Some of those may be her prospective opponents and in the semi's she might meet her sister Serena.

I still have to check the two lower draws so I'm not quite sure who can their prospective opponents be in the finals but I wouldn't be surprised if it's either Kerber or Muguruza.

US Open 2016: Serena Wants to End Lacklustre Summer with a Grand Slam Title


Serena has had a lackluster summer, returning home from Rio with zilch. Perhaps the conditions in Rio did not suit her superstar status or having to defend two titles was just overwhelming.

Anyhow, she's back in the grand slam stage again, gunning for a title that she lost last year in spectacular fashion!

A year later, everyone's watching whether the six-time US Open titlist can forget last year's debacle and do better this year and win the title.

Her side of the draw is a good help, although Simona Halep, a player who has defeated her before is with her.

Aside from Simona, Daria Kasatkina and Ana Ivanovic are some of her probable opponents before she reaches the semi's.

I still have to see the other side of the draws but with Serena, she has proven time and again that she can obliterate anyone so everyone still has to be on their toes if they want to win this title

US Open 2016: Andy Murray A Heavy Favorite to win the Title


Andy Murray seems to be everyone's favorite to win this year's US Open, a victory to cap a most golden summer! With a very crowded top tier in men's tennis, to have won two Olympics gold medals in the singles event is quite an achievement.

I just hope he holds up physically as he also joined a pre-US Open event where he was runner-up.

Even then, by virtue of head-to-head, he is also the favorite to top his side of the draw. Potential opponents include Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Radek Stepanek.

Beyond that, Dominic Thiem looms in the semi's and maybe Nadal or Cilic in the final. Let's see if Andy still has enough gas in the tank to win the final slam of the year.

US Open 2016: Dominic Thiem's Star Continues to Shine


A lot has been written about Dominic Thiem's talents and he has slowly shown to the world the wealth of his talent when he broke into the semi's of this year's Roland Garros.

On the sheer strength of the head-to-heads alone, Thiem, is surprisingly, the pick to reach the semifinal slot of his side of the draw in this year's US Open, considering that topnotch players like Stan Wawrinka and Juan del Potro are also on his side of the draw.

Although on paper, he may not meet the two aforementioned players, he still has his hands full with potential nemeses, Nick Kyrgios and David Ferrer.

The future of men's tennis has finally collided with the big five, and this may continue as the game welcomes the ascendancy of these young turks.

US Open 2016: Rafael Nadal Still A Force to Reckon With


It has been a golden summer for Rafael Nadal, winning gold in the men's doubles in the Rio Olympics along with Marc Lopez. He finishes fourth though in the singles, losing to Kei Nishikori for the bronze medal.

Then he loses out to Borna Coric in the 3rd round of the Cincy Open. However, in his side of the draw of this year's US Open, he is unsurprisingly, expected to reach the semi-final stage of his draw.

Based on the hear-to-head, his most likely opponents as he progresses in the draw are Andreas Seppi, Andrey Kuznetsov, Mikhail Kukushkin, and Gael Monfils, all very talented players.

His health and stamina are still a big question mark though even with his Rio achievements. Anyhow, this is the US Open and he has won here before and he has been known to perform well at the bigger stages, so the expectations for him remain high.

US Open 2016: Marin Cilic Definitely one of the Dark Horse Favorites


The US Open is one grand slam stage that Marin Cilic has shown past success, and this year, he appears as one of the dark horses who may have a great chance of winning the title.
Novak is in Cilic's side of the draw but since I use head-to-head for prognostication, this is one of the rare times that the Serb may fall on the way side early in the draw as there is a player there that has a rare winning record over him.
Cilic, on the other hand, will most likely reach the semi-final stage, with John Isner, Kevin Anderson and Jack Sock as potential nemeses as he progresses to each round.
Cilic has had a great summer, winning in Cincinnati, where he upset Andy Murray. He has the confidence to do it again here in Flushing Meadows.

Friday, August 12, 2016

2016 Rio Olympics: Women's Singles Semi-finalists





It's an interesting mix of talent that has reached the 2016 Rio Olympics women's singles tournament.
Yes, Serena and Garbine were in the mix but were shuffled out in the earlier rounds.
Of the four, I'm happiest for Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, because she has certainly risen to the challenge especially in a high profile tournament - although not as high profile as the grand slams - if you're a tennis fan. I really hope she wins a medal.
I think that the gold medal will either go to the Czech Republic or Germany although Madison Keys of the US is also a feisty player.
Anyhow, however this turns out, it's a welcome peek to who can do well in the upcoming US Open tournament next month!

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Medallists Women's Singles

GOLD - Serena Williams (USA)

SILVER - Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

BRONZE - Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

BRONZE - Roberta Vinci (ITA)

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Semi-finals Women's Singles

SEMI-FINALS
Serena Williams USA 1
     
Agnieszka Radwanska POL 5
     
Jelena Jankovic SRB 26
     
Roberta Vinci ITA 8
     

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Quarterfinals Women's Singles

QUARTERFINALS
Serena Williams USA 1
Victoria Azarenka BLR 7
     
Kristina Mladenovic FRA 33
Agnieszka Radwanska POL 5
     
Jelena Jankovic SRB 26
Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 12
 
     
Karolina Pliskova CZE 17
Roberta Vinci ITA 8
     

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Second Round Women's Singles

SECOND ROUND
Serena Williams USA 1
Ana Ivanovic SRB 25
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 10
Victoria Azarenka BLR 7
     
Kristina Mladenovic FRA 33
Belinda Bencic SUI 16
Madison Keys USA 9
Agnieszka Radwanska POL 5
     
Elina Svitolina UKR 20
Jelena Jankovic SRB 26
 
Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 12
Timea Babos HUN 38
     
Karolina Pliskova CZE 17
Johanna Konta GBR 13
Monica Puig PUR 32
Roberta Vinci ITA 8
     

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics First Round Women's Singles

FIRST ROUND
Serena Williams USA 1
Samantha Stosur AUS 18
Petra Kvitova CZE 14
Ana Ivanovic SRB 25
Misaki Doi JPN 30
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 10
Elena Vesnina RUS 23
Victoria Azarenka BLR 7
     
Kristina Mladenovic FRA 33
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 19
Belinda Bencic SUI 16
Caroline Garcia FRA 28
Yanina Wickmayer BEL 31
Madison Keys USA 9
Barbora Strycova TPE 21
Agnieszka Radwanska POL 5
     
Eugenie Bouchard CAN 34
Elina Svitolina UKR 20
 
Alize Cornet FRA 41
Jelena Jankovic SRB 26
Laura Siegemund GER 29
Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 12
Camila Giorgi ITA 55
Timea Babos HUN 38
     
Garbine Muguruza ESP 4
Karolina Pliskova CZE 17
 
Johanna Konta GBR 13
Irina-Camelia Begu ROU 27
Monica Puig PUR 32
Anastasija Sevastova LAT 45
Johanna Larsson SWE 56
Roberta Vinci ITA 8
     

Fantasy Tennis: 2016 Olympics Women's Singles Tennis Draw

1 Serena Williams USA
35 Andrea Petkovic GER
50 Kirsten Flipkens BEL
18 Samantha Stosur AUS
14 Petra Kvitova CZE
43 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni CRO
57 Viktorija Golubic SUI
25 Ana Ivanovic SRB
30 Misaki Doi JPN
61 Naomi Broady GBR
48 Lesia Tsurenko UKR
10 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS
23 Elina Vesnina RUS
54 Heather Watson GBR
40 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ
7 Victoria Azarenka BLR
     
3 Simona Halep ROU
33 Kristina Mladenovic FRA
52 Zheng Saisai CHN
19 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS
16 Belinda Bencic SUI
44 Caroline Wozniacki DEN
 
59 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL
28 Caroline Garcia FRA
31 Yanina Wickmayer BEL
62 Mariana Duque-Marino COL
47 Danka Kovinic MNE
9 Madison Keys USA
21 Barbora Strycova CZE
53 Wang Qiang CHN
37 Yulia Putinteva KAZ
5 Agnieszka Radwanska POL
     
2 Angelique Kerber GER
34 Eugenie Bouchard CAN
49 Anna Schmiedlova SVK
20 Elina Svitolina UKR
15 Timea Bacsinszky SUI
41 Alize Cornet FRA
58 Cagla Buyuckakay TUR
26 Jelena Jankovic SRB
29 Laura Siegemund GER
63 Su-Wei Hsieh TPE
46 Monica Niculescu ROU
12 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP
24 Sara Errani ITA
55 Camila Giorgi ITA
38 Timea Babos HUN
6 Venus Williams USA
     
4 Garbine Muguruza ESP
36 Jelena Ostapenko LAT
51 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR
17 Karolina Pliskova CZE
13 Johanna Konta GBR
42 Zhang Shuai CHN
60 Kristina Kucova SVK
27 Irina-Camelia Begu ROU
32 Monica Puig PUR
64 Teliana Pereira BRA
45 Anastasija Sevastova LAT
11 Dominika Cibulkova SVK
22 Kiki Bertens NED
56 Johanna Larsson SWE
39 Daria Gavrilova AUS
8 Roberta Vinci ITA