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.

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.

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.

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!

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