2015 US Open Women's Draw: Can Simona Halep Finally Make It to the Grand Slams Winner Circle?

While the upper section of the women's draw have the veterans slugging for the finals spot in this year's US Open, the underachievers yet very talented and relatively new players are in the bottom.

Simona Halep, like Petra Kvitova, the other top seed on their section of the draw, has also been severely underachieving in this year's grand slams.  She did reach the quarters in the Aussie Open but fell early in the next two slams.  

She looked like she was undergoing some limelight crisis, which is not uncommon for new players suddenly thrust into the limelight after a great showing in a slam. In 2014, Simona almost won the French Open title, fighting fiercely against Maria Sharapova.

However, she has been doing really well in this summer's US Open series so she really is the player who has the means to upset Serena's 2015  grand slam achievement.

Another in-form player, Lucie Safarova, stands in the way of Simona, so it would be an interesting match-up, in case both women do meet in the quarters.

2015 US Open Women's Draw: Kvitova's Firepower and Experience Should Push Her Through

Petra Kvitova has been underachieving in the grand slams this year, reaching the fourth round only once, losing again and again to a much better player on the day.

However, since Caroline Wozniacki is the other top seed on her side of the 2015 US Open draw, Petra's firepower should be able to subdue Caroline,

Kvitova's other possible opponents include Garbine Muguruza and upcoming player Anna Schmiedlova, two very talented young players, but since experience is on her side, Kvitova should be able go through them.

2015 US Open Women's Draw: Maria Has to Find Her Anti-Serena Weapon Fast!

Maria Sharapova must've been disappointed to see that Serena is once again on her side of the draw in the final grand slam this year. She lost to Serena in the Aussie Open final, and then in the semi's of Wimbledon a few weeks ago.

If all the stars align in the draw, she could meet Serena in the semi's again in Flushing Meadows - and we know how dismal Maria has been everytime they've met. Maybe she should study how Alize Cornet (who has defeated Serena thrice in one year!) or Garbine Muguruza (who pummeled Serena 62 62 in RG last year) or even how Belinda Bencic did it since it was the most recent Serena defeat.

I don't think Maria has a weapon that is more superior to Serena, and she doesn't have the volleying skills that Halep or Radwanska has nor the great defensive plays of

Anyway, Ivanovic is the other good contender in this side of the draw but I don't remember Ana ever doing very well on the American hardcourts.

Makarova, last year's semifinalist can also be a potential spoiler against Maria. Bouchard has been performing so poorly this year, I don't think she'd be a threat in the later rounds.

2015 US Open Women's Draw: Serena on a Historical Quest

It is but fitting that for Serena to achieve her first on-the-year Grand Slam, that she would have to fight in a very tough draw to make her achievement more meaningful!

As soon as I saw the players on her side of the draw, I was amazed to see the number of quality players in there that could at least give Serena, something to chew on!

First on the list is the possibility that she would meet her summer Swiss tormentor, Belinda Bencic in the semi's.  Not everyone saw how Belinda subdued Serena in a less-seen pre-US Open tournament, but in the grand slam stage, more tennis fans would be able to see how crafty and aggressive the Swiss miss is.

There's also the up-and-coming Karolina Pliskova who's a very talented and resilient player.  Parang si Aga Radwanksa when she was in top form.

Second, there is the possibility of meeting two talented fellow American players, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens, two players who I think, could give Serena problems, if they are on top form.

I haven't seen the other side of Serena's draw yet so I don't know who her possible semifinal opponent could be.

One interesting observation on this draw is the presence of two sister pairs currently active in the women's tour, the Williams and the Radwanska's!  There's even a chance that the latter would meet each other in an early round.  Also,Karolina, one-half of the Czech Pliskova sisters is on this side of the draw, as well.

By the way, if Belinda Bencic wants to go further in this grand slam, there is a possibility that she would have to defeat the two Williams sisters in the same tournament - a feat which only a few women players have done.  

I only remember Justine Henin as one of the players to be able to do so.  Yun lang, I forget what tournament, but it was one of the top ones.  I believe one of her grand slam wins, if I'm not mistaken.

US Open 2012: Elite Women's Team Country Award

 

The Elite Women'sTeam Award for the US Open remains in Russia's hands this year, as Maria Sharapova (#3) and Nadia Petrova (#22) both reached the fourth round.  Three countries vied for the award, with Italy almost winning it again, after surprisingly winning the award in Wimbledon.  Sara Errani (#10) and Roberta Vinci (#19) both reached the fourth round.  The Czech Republic was the other country, as Petra Kvitova (#5) and Andrea Hlavackova (#82) both reached the fourth round.

US Open 2012 Breakthroughs: Anna Tatishvili

The country Georgia is not really well-known to produce tennis greats, so it's great to see Anna Tatishvili, make it into the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time - the first Georgian female player to do so.  She won her third round match against Mandy Minella of Luxembourg today. 

She is set to meet world #1 Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.

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Ernests Gulbis: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Reached the Second Round of the US Open 2012

Ernests Gulbis is one of the most erratic players in the ATP Tour and also one of the most talented.  Currently ranked #145 due to his inconsistent tour play, he still had it in him to dispatch German veteran Tommy Haas who has had a great summer, in the first round of this US Open.  However, he lost to American collegiate player Steve Johnson in the second round, who is ranked #245.

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Olga Puchkova: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Reached the Third Round of the US Open 2012

Russian Olga Puchkova, ranked #143 in the world, defeated American Irina Falconi, ranked #109 in the world, in the first round of the US Open 2012 76(5) 67(2) 63.   She then defeated Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, ranked #74 in the world, in the second round 57 62 75 . 

She will next face Sara Errani of Italy, ranked #10 in the world.

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Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Reached the Second Round of the US Open 2012

Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino of Spain, ranked #115 in the world, won her first round match in this year's US Open against Shahar Peer, ranked #62 in the world, 64 76(5).  She will next meet former world #1 Jelena Jankovic in the second round.

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Tatjana Malek: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Reached the Second Round of the US Open 2012

Tatjana Malek of Germany, ranked #141 in the world, won her first round US Open match against Akgul Amanmuradova, ranked #121 in the world, 46 62 64. She will next meet American Sloane Stephens, ranked #44 in the world, in the second round.

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Johanna Konta: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Has Reached the 2d Round of the US Open 2012

Johanna Konta of the Netherlands, currently ranked at #203, wins her first round match in the US Open 2012, against Hungarian Timea Babos, ranked #59.  This is only her second Grand Slam main draw entrance and her first entry into the second round.

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Kristina Mladenovic: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 who Reached the Third Round of the US Open 2012

Kristina Mladenovic of France, ranked #150, won her first round match against #54-ranked Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 75 64.  She then dispatched Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 61 62 in the second round.

This is the first time she has reached the third round of a Grand Slam.  

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Mallory Burdetter: Player Ranked Outside the Top 100 Who Reached the Third Round of the US Open 2012

Mallory Burdette of the US, ranked #252, and granted a wildcard to play in this year's US Open, wins her very first Grand Slam match against Swiss Timea Bacsinsky who is ranked at #305.  Bacsinsky though was a former top 50 player, that's why this victory is pretty special.  

She then defeated Czech player Lucie Hradecka (#69) 62 64 in the second round.  She will most likely meet Maria Sharapova in the third round.

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Anastasia Rodionova: Player Ranked Outside the top 100 who reached the 2d round of the US Open 2012

Australian Anastasia Rodionova  has reached the third round in the US Open twice (2006, 2009) and in this 2012 edition she reaches the second round after defeating American Julia Cohen (#101) in the first round.  What makes it special is that Rodionova is ranked #163 right now, that's why she is featured in this article.  She has reached as high as #79 though in her career way back in 2007.

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