Saturday, August 27, 2022

US.Q - And the Czechs Shall Lead Them

A look back at the U.S. Open qualifying rounds...




*TOP Q-PLAYERS*
1. Sara Bejlek, CZE (16, #194) ...Bejlek, with her trademark mismatched shoes, completed the 1-2-3 slam process over the last few months, going from RG girls' semifinalist to falling in the opening round of women's qualifying at Wimbledon to pushing through to the MD at the U.S. Open to make her slam debut. The 16-year old leads the three-headed wave of Czech Crushers who qualified at Flushing Meadows (FYI -- they're the three youngest players in the MD, naturally).

Bejlek made her way through a pair of veterans (two-time slam quarterfinalist Kristina Mladenovic and '22 Wimbledon 4th Rounder Heather Watson) with a win over a '22 conqueror of Petra Kvitova (Priscilla Hon) in between.

No less than former Roland Garros champ Barbora Krejcikova recently predicted a big future for her fellow Czech, and to date Bejlek has done nothing to make her words seem premature.


===============================================
2. Clara Burel, FRA (21, #132) ...rain delays played havoc with the Pastry's final qualifying match, but it worked out for her. Big time. The #28 seed, Burel was MP down at 5-6 in the 3rd set vs. #7 Misaki Doi when rain gave her a reprieve. She took advantage, holding serve after saving 4 MP. Things went to a TB, where another rain delay preceded Burel saving another MP before finally winning 12-10.

She's lost four straight slam 1st Round matches, and fallen at the same stage in six of her last seven appearances in majors.
===============================================
3. Ashlyn Krueger, USA (18, #191) ...after making her slam MD debut via a WC last year in New York, Krueger used a qualifying WC to win her way into her second major MD. The teenager opened with a love 3rd set vs. Renata Zarazua, then took out #25 seeded Katie Boulter and Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in straights.


===============================================
4. Victoria Kuzmova, SVK (24, #111) ...Kuzmova's singles results have been somewhat disappointing of late, as she'd lost in qualifying in six of the last eight majors. This time, she went 3-0 with wins over #20 Julia Grabher, Nastasja Schunk and #8 Viktorija Tomova without losing a set.

It's been three years (2019) since the Slovak posted three MD wins at the AO/RG, going 0-7 in the MD (w/ six qualifying losses) in the last 12 slams.
===============================================
5. Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE (17, #158) ...in her third slam qualifying attempt this year, Fruhvirtova (the second-youngest player in the MD) qualifies to make her slam debut, defeating a pair of seeds (#29 Ylena In-Albon and #12 Chloe Paquet) to join fellow Czech teens Bejlek and Linda Noskova in the Open 1st Round.


===============================================

*OTHER US QUALIFIERS*

Erika Andreeva, RUS (18/#131) - the #27 Q-seed, she makes her slam debut after winning a three-set Q3 vs. countrywoman Rakhimova




Elina Avanesyan, RUS (19/#131) - maybe the most under-the-radar Hordette fresh face out there, Avanesyan makes her slam debut after impressive wins over #10 Pigossi, Chwalinska and #26 Uchijima




Cristina Bucsa, ESP (24/#119) - the #17-seeded Spaniard calmed the serving machine that had been Sachia Vickery (25 aces in her first two Q-matches) to qualify for a major for a third time this season

Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA (21/#100) - wins over VJK, McNally and Osuigwe finally allow the Italian to escape slam qualifying in '22 after falling in AO/RG Q-rounds (in the SW19 draw via a protected ranking, she reached the 2nd Rd.).

Fernanda Contreras, MEX (24/#138) - the former Vanderbilt star qualifies to make her tournament MD debut at a third straight slam, defeating #1 seeded Ana Bogdan in three in the Q2, and joining Bucsa as a three-time slam qualifier in '22




Viktorija Golubic, SUI (29/#88) - outlasted Aussie Sharma in the final round of qualifying. Golubic is 0-5 in U.S. Open 1st Round matches.

Catherine Harrison, USA (28/#239) - another former NCAA player (UCLA), Harrison uses her qualifying WC to reach her maiden U.S. Open MD, dropping no sets en route. She reached the 2nd Round at Wimbledon as a qualifier.




Leolia Jeanjean, FRA (24/#149) - the former Arkansas/Lynn Univ. product will play in her second slam MD of '22 after her surprise RG 3rd Round as a wild card this spring

Linda Noskova, CZE (17/#87) - the third Czech teen to qualify (and the third-youngest in the women's MD -- all younger than USTA 18u champion Eleana Yu, who got a MD WC), the #4 seed didn't lose a set. Noskova took Raducanu to three sets in her slam MD debut in Paris.




Daria Snigur, UKR (20/#125) - #22-seeded Snigur make her slam debut after wins over Andrianjafitrimo, Wickmayer and Hibino

Yuan Yue, CHN (23/#142) - Yuan lost in '22 qualifying at the three previous majors (though she reached the Wimbledon MD as a LL), but this time she didn't lose a set, upsetting #13 Volynets in the Q1 and then #31 Inglis in the final round



*RECENT U.S. OPEN "Q-PLAYER OF THE WEEK" WINNERS*
2014 Aleksandra Krunic, SRB
2015 Jessica Pegula, USA
2016 Taylor Townsend, USA
2017 Kaia Kanepi, EST
2018 Genie Bouchard, CAN
2019 Peng Shuai, CHN
2020 DNP Q
2021 Rebecca Marino, CAN
2022 Sara Bejlek, CZE
[2022 slams]
AO: Hailey Baptiste, USA
RG: Jule Niemeier, GER
WI: Maja Chwalinska, POL
US: Sara Bejlek, CZE

*US OPEN LUCKY LOSERS (as of August 27)*
Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (20/#90) - Rakhimova lost out in a Q3 three-setter vs. fellow Hordette Erika Andreeva, but gets into the MD as a lucky loser (for the second straight U.S. Open -- she took her "second chance" into the 3rd Rd. last year) due to the surprise announcement from Angelique Kerber that she was withdrawing because she's pregnant (!).



*IN WOMEN'S SLAM SINGLES MD...*
[oldest]
=2020=
AO: Venus Williams, USA (39)
US: Venus Williams, USA (40)
RG: Venus Williams, USA (40)
=2021=
AO: Venus Williams, USA (40)
RG: Venus Williams, USA (40)
WI: Venus Williams, USA (41)
US: Samantha Stosur, AUS (37)
=2022=
AO: Samantha Stosur, AUS (37)
RG: Kaia Kanepi, EST (36)
WI: Serena Williams, USA (40)
US: Venus Williams, USA (42)
[youngest]
=2020=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (15)
US: Robin Montgomery, USA (15)
RG: Coco Gauff, USA (16)
=2021=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (16)
RG: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
WI: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
US: Ashlyn Krueger, USA (17)
=2022=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE (17)
WI: Coco Gauff, USA (18)
US: Sara Bejlek, CZE (16)

*2022 U.S. OPEN...*
=youngest=
16 - Sara Bejlek, CZE (Q) - DOB: January 31, 2006
17 - Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE (Q) - DOB: May 1, 2005
17 - Linda Noskova, CZE (Q) - DOB: November 17, 2004
17 - Eleanu Yu, USA (WC) - DOB: November 8, 2004
18 - Erika Andreeva, RUS (Q) - DOB: June 24, 2004
18 - Ashlyn Krueger, USA (Q) - DOB: May 7, 2004
18 - Coco Gauff, USA - DOB: March 13, 2004
19 - Avanesyan, Fernandez, Parry, Raducanu, Tauson, Q.Zheng
=oldest=
42 - Venus Williams, USA (WC) - DOB: June 17, 1980
40 - Serena Williams, USA (PR) - DOB: September 26, 1981
37 - Kaia Kanepi, ESP - DOB: June 10, 1985
35 - Tatjana Maria, GER - DOB: August 8, 1987
34 - Andrea Petkovic, GER - DOB: September 9, 1987
34 - Laura Siegemund, GER - DOB: March 4, 1988
33 - Azarenka, Rodina, Tsurenko

*2022 SLAM QUALIFIERS BY NATION*
11..USA (4/1/4/2)
4...AUS (0/0/4)
4...CZE (0/1/0/3)
3...CHN (1/1/0/1)
3...ESP (1/1/0/1)
3...ITA (2/0/0/1)
3...MEX (0/1/1/1)
3...RUS (0/1/0/2)
3...UKR (1/1/0/1)
2...BEL (0/1/1)
2...CAN (1/1/0)
2...CRI (0/1/1)
2...FRA (0/0/0/2)
2...GER (0/1/1)
2...POL (0/0/2)
2...SRB (0/2/0)
2...SUI (1/0/0/1)
2...SVK (1/0/0/1)
2...SWE (0/1/1)
1...AO: BUL,GBR,KOR,NED
1...RG: GRE,ROU
1...WI: JPN
1...US: -

=MULTI-SLAM QUALIFIERS IN 2022=
3 - Cristina Bucsa, ESP (AO-RG-US)
3 - Fernanda Contreras, MEX (RG-WI-US)
2 - Hailey Baptiste, USA (AO-RG)
2 - Emina Bektas, USA (AO-WI)
2 - Mirjam Bjorklund, SWE (RG-WI)
2 - Catherine Harrison, USA (WI-US)
2 - Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK (AO-US)
2 - Rebecca Marino, CAN (AO-RG)
2 - Linda Noskova, CZE (RG-US)
2 - Lesia Tsurenko, UKR (AO-RG)




US Q1 - Sachia Vickery def. Yuliya Hatouka 6-7(4)/6-1/6-0
...Vickery fired 19 aces, winning 33 of 37 1st serves and only facing one BP all match
===============================================
US Q1 - (PR) Genie Bouchard def. Yuki Naito 6-3/6-3
...ranked #964, Bouchard notches her first match win since the Guadalajara SF in March of last year. Shoulder surgery and a 17-month absence "soon" followed. The Canadian lost in the Q2 vs. Linda Noskova.


===============================================
US Q1 - Carolina Alves def. Stefanie Voegele 6-2/6-7(1)/7-6(8)
...Alves led 3-0 and 5-2 in the 3rd set, holding two MP in game #9 before Voegele won four straight games to lead 6-5. The Swiss held a MP of her own a game later, but the two played into the first women's 10-point MTB in U.S. Open history. Alves thought she'd won the match at 7-5, going to the net in celebration before being told by the chair umpire that she actually need three *more* points. She got them, closing out the three-hour affair.


===============================================
US Q1 - Rebeka Masarova def. Selena Janicijevic 7-5/6-7(7)/6-4
...T-minus nine months until Janicijevic gets that WC into the Roland Garros MD
===============================================
US Q1 - Sara Bejlek def. #14 Kristina Mladenovic 6-4/1-6/6-4
...while Alize Cornet will make her WTA record 63rd consecutive slam MD appearance at this U.S. Open, fellow Pastry Mladenovic actually had a 41-slam MD streak going until it was uncermoniously ended by the 16-year old. In case you were wondering (and how *can't* you?), Kiki had 10 DF on the day, and outpointed the Czech 89-86 in the three-set defeat.


===============================================
US Q1 - Lizette Cabrera def. #15 Olga Danilovic 4-6/7-5/6-3
...Danilovic led 6-4/4-2, with a BP for a 5-2 edge. She served at 5-4, holding a MP before going on to drop her second of three matches since reaching the Lausanne final last month.
===============================================
US Q2 - Fernanda Contreras def. #1 Ana Bogdan 2-6/6-4/6-3
...in order to make the MD, Contreras had to take down the top seed after trailing 6-2/3-1
===============================================



US Q3 - #28 Clara Burel def. #7 Misaki Doi 2-6/6-4/7-6(10)
...Doi led 5-0 in the 1st, winning nine of the first twelve games to lead 6-2/3-1. Burel took 5 of 6 games to knot the match, and led 4-2 in the 3rd. The Pastry served at 5-4, but saw the Japanese veteran surge back and hold MP at 6-5 on Burel's serve when rain stopped the match. Burel came back to save four MP and take the match to a deciding MTB. Again, play was stopped six points in, but Burel returned to save a fifth MP at 10-9 before going on to win 12-10.
===============================================
US Q3 - Linda Fruhvirtova def. #12 Chloe Paquet 6-4/3-6/6-3
...little sister Brenda hasn't yet joined the fun, but Linda is the first Fruhvirtova to reach a slam MD.


===============================================
US Q3 - Sara Bejlek def. Heather Watson 3-6/6-4/7-5
...Watson led 3-1 in the 3rd, then 5-3, and served at 5-4 before the Czech swept the final four games.

Don't remind Heather, at just age 30, that her opponent is somehow fourteen (#$@!%...in a British accent) years her junior.
===============================================






kosova-font


*YOUNGEST 2022 SLAM...*
=Q=
US - Sara Bejlek, CZE (16)
US - Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE (17)
RG - Linda Noskova, CZE (17)
US - Linda Noskova, CZE (17)
WI - Nastasja Schunk, GER (18)
US - Ashlyn Krueger, USA (18)
US - Erika Andreeva, RUS (18)
AO - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (19)
RG - Oksana Selekhmeteva, RUS (19)
US - Elina Avanesyan, RUS (19)

=LL=
RG - Nastasja Schunk, GER (18)
US - Kamilla Rakhimkova, RUS (20)

=OLDEST 2022 SLAM...=
=Q=
AO - Lesia Tsurenko, UKR (32)
WI - Yanina Wickmayer, BEL (32)
AO - Rebecca Marino, CAN (31)
AO - Stefanie Voegele, SUI (31)
WI - Christina McHale, USA (30)

=LL=
RG - Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU (34)
RG - Reka-Luca Jani, HUN (30)
WI - Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, NED (30)
WI - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (30)

=MAKING SLAM MD DEBUTS=
=AUTOMATIC ENTRY MD=
AO - Anna Bondar, HUN
AO - Jaqueline Cristian, ROU
AO - Panna Udvardy, HUN
WI - Ylena In-Albon, SUI
WI - Laura Pigossi, BRA

=WC=
AO - Robin Anderson, USA
RG - Leolia Jeanjean, FRA
RG - Carole Monnet, FRA
WI - Sonay Kartal, GBR
WI - Lily Miyazaki, GBR
US - Elli Mandlik, USA
US - Peyton Stearns, USA
US - Eleana Yu, USA

=Q=
AO - Emina Bektas, USA
AO - Lucia Bronzetti, ITA
AO - Arianne Hartono, NED
AO - Jang Su-jeong, KOR
AO - Zheng Qinwen, CHN
RG - Mirjam Bjorklund, SWE
RG - Fernanda Contreras, MEX
RG - Jule Niemeier, GER
RG - Linda Noskova, CZE
RG - Oksana Selekhmeteva, RUS
WI - Maja Chwalinska, POL
WI - Catherine Harrison, USA
WI - Mai Hontama, JPN
US - Erika Andreeva, RUS
US - Elina Avanesyan, RUS
US - Sara Bejlek, CZE
US - Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
US - Daria Snigur, UKR

=LL=
RG - Anastasia Gasanova, RUS
RG - Nastasja Schunk, GER
WI - Yuan Yue, CHN

=LOW-RANKED 2022 SLAM QUALIFIERS=
#603 - Yanina Wickmayer, BEL (WI)
#572 - Zoe Hives, AUS (WI)
#264 - Catherina Harrison, USA (WI)
#254 - Jana Fett, CRO (WI)
#242 - Christina McHale, USA (WI)
#239 - Catherine Harrison, USA (US)
#227 - Louisa Chirico, USA (WI)
#225 - Emina Bektas, USA (WI)
#224 - Fernanda Contreras, MEX (RG)
#216 - Emina Bektas, USA (AO)
#212 - Jang Su-jeong, KOR (AO)
#200 - Caroline Dolehide, USA (AO)

=LL=
#176 - Rebecca Sramkova, SVK (RG)
#165 - Nastasja Schunk, GER (RG)
#160 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (WI)
#155 - Anastasia Gasanova, RUS (RG)
#152 - Yuan Yue, CHN (WI)
#138 - Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, NED (WI)
#134 - Irina Bara, ROU (AO)
#128 - Reka-Luca Jani, HUN (RG)
#125 - Nao Hibino, JPN (AO)
#118 - Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU (RG)
#113 - Viktoriya Tomova, BUL (RG)


**RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS**
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS*
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN*
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA*
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2020 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL*
2021 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN (3)
2021 RG: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE*
2021 WI: Ash Barty, AUS
2021 US: Emma Raducanu, GBR*
2022 AO: Ash Barty, AUS (3)
2022 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL (2)
2022 WI: Elena Rybakina, KAZ*
--
* - first-time slam champ

**AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS**
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)

**ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - FIRST SLAM FINAL**
1997 U.S. Open - Venus Williams
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams (W)
2004 U.S. Open - Svetlana Kuznetsova (W)
2010 Roland Garros - Samantha Stosur
2010 Wimbledon - Vera Zvonareva
2011 Wimbledon - Petra Kvitova (W)
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka (W)
2012 Roland Garros - Sara Errani
2013 Wimbledon - Sabine Lisicki
2014 Roland Garros - Simona Halep
2014 Wimbledon - Genie Bouchard
2015 Wimbledon - Garbine Muguruza
2016 Australian Open - Angelique Kerber (W)
2016 U.S. Open - Karolina Pliskova
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko (W)
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens (W)
2017 U.S. Open - Madison Keys
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka (W)
2019 Roland Garros - Marketa Vondrousova
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu (W)
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin (W)
2020 Roland Garros - Iga Swiatek (W)
2021 Australian Open - Jennifer Brady
2021 Roland Garros - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2021 Roland Garros - Barbora Krejcikova (W)
2021 U.S. Open - Leylah Fernandez
2021 U.S. Open - Emma Raducanu (W)
2022 Australian Open - Danielle Collins
2022 Roland Garros - Coco Gauff
2022 Wimbledon - Ons Jabeur
2022 Wimbledon - Elena Rybakina (W)
--
ALSO: Barty ('19 RG - W)

**ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - WON IN FIRST SLAM FINAL**
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams
2011 Wimbledon - Petra Kvitova
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka
2016 Australian Open - Angelique Kerber
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin
2020 Roland Garros - Iga Swiatek
2021 Roland Garros - Barbora Krejcikova
2021 U.S. Open - Emma Raducanu
2022 Wimbledon - Elena Rybakina
--
ALSO: Barty ('19 RG)



**RECENT WOMEN'S U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONS**
2010 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2011 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Serena Williams, USA
2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Sloane Stephens, USA
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR

**U.S. OPEN FINALS - ACTIVE**
10...Serena Williams (6-4)
4...Venus Williams (2-2)
3...Victoria Azarenka (0-3)
2...Naomi Osaka (2-0)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (1-1)
1...Bianca Andreescu (1-0)
1...Angelique Kerber (1-0)
1...Emma Raducanu (1-0)
1...Sloane Stephens (1-0))
1...Samantha Stosur (1-0)
1...Leylah Fernandez (0-1)
1...Madison Keys (0-1)
1...Karolina Pliskova (0-1)
1...Vera Zvonareva (0-1)

**CAREER U.S. OPEN MATCH WIN LEADERS**
106...Serena Williams*
101...Chris Evert
89...Martina Navratilova
79...Venus Williams*
73...Steffi Graf
62...Lindsay Davenport

**RECENT U.S. OPEN TOP SEEDS**
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (SF)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (SF)
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (RU)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (SF)
2016 Serena Williams, USA (SF)
2017 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (QF)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (1st)
2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN (4th)
2020 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2nd)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS (3rd)
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL

**EARLIEST EXIT BY SLAM #1 at U.S. OPEN**
2018 1st Rd. - Simona Halep (lost to Kaia Kanepi)
1966 2nd Rd. - Billie Jean King (lost to Kerry Melville)
2008 2nd Rd. - Ana Ivanovic (lost to Julie Coin)
2020 2nd Rd. - Karolina Pliskova (lost to Caroline Garcia)

**FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT U.S. OPEN - OPEN ERA**
1968 Virginia Wade, GBR
1979 Tracy Austin, USA
1990 Gabriela Sabatini, ARG
1998 Lindsay Davenport, USA
1999 Serena Williams, USA
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2005 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2011 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2017 Sloane Stephens, USA
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR

**LOW-SEEDED U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA**
Unseeded/Wild Card - Kim Clijsters, BEL (2009)
Unseeded - Sloane Stephens, USA (2017)
Qualifier - Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021)
#26 - Flavia Pennetta, ITA (2015)
#20 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2018)
#15 - Bianca Andreescu, CAN (2019)
#9 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (2011)
#9 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (2004)
#7 - Serena Williams, USA (1999)
#6 - Virginia Wade, GBR (1968)

**LOW-RANKED U.S. OPEN FINALISTS - since 1975**
Unranked - Kim Clijsters, 2009 (W)
#150 - Emma Raducanu, 2021 (W)
#83 - Sloane Stephens, 2017 (W)
#73 - Leylah Fernandez, 2021
#66 - Venus Williams, 1997

**RECENT U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S SEMIFINALISTS**
2015 Pennetta (W), Vinci (F); Halep/S.Williams
2016 Kerber (W), Ka.Pliskova (F); S.Williams/Wozniacki
2017 Stephens (W), Keys (F); Vandeweghe/V.Williams
2018 Osaka (W), S.Williams (F); Keys/Sevastova
2019 Andreescu (W), S.Williams (F); Bencic/Svitolina
2020 Osaka (W), Azarenka (F); Brady/S.Williams
2021 Raducanu (W), Fernandez (F); Sabalenka/Sakkari

**LOW-SEEDED U.S. OPEN SEMIFINALISTS - since 2000**
[unseeded]
2000 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
2009 [WC] Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
2011 Angelique Kerber, GER
2013 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA (RU)
2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (W)
2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (RU)
2021 Leylah Fernandez, CAN (RU)
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR (Q)(W)
[seeds]
#28 - 2011 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#28 - 2020 Jennifer Brady, USA
#26 - 2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (W)
#20 - 2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
#20 - 2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
#19 - 2006 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
#19 - 2018 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
#17 - 2018 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#17 - 2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
#16 - 2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
#15 - 2017 Madison Keys, USA (RU)
#15 - 2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN (W)
#14 - 2018 Madison Keys, USA
#13 - 2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
#12 - 2005 Mary Pierce, FRA (RU)
#12 - 2007 Venus Williams, USA

**RECENT U.S. OPEN GIRLS FINALS**
2015 Dalma Galfi/HUN d. Sonya Kenin/USA
2016 Kayla Day/USA d. Viktoria Kuzmova/SVK
2017 Amanda Anisimova/USA d. Coco Gauff/USA
2018 Wang Xiyu/CHN d. Clara Burel/FRA
2019 Camila Osorio/COL d. Alexandra Yepifanova/USA
2020 DNP
2021 Robin Montgomery/USA d. Kristina Dmitruk/BLR
--
#- (2010) players now represent AUS & KAZ

**BEST U.S. OPEN GIRLS/WOMEN'S RESULTS**
[won Girls & Women's titles]
Lindsay Davenport (1992 Jr. Champion; 1998 Women's champion)
[others]
Martina Hingis (1994 Junior RU; 1997 Women's Champion)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (2001 Junior RU; 2004 Women's champion)
Victoria Azarenka (2005 Junior champion; 2012-13/20 Women's RU)
[additional active]
Amanda Anisimova (2017 Junior champion; 3r)
Marie Bouzkova (2014 Junior champion; 1r)
Caroline Garcia (2011 Junior RU; 3r)
CoCo Gauff (2017 Junior RU; 3r)
Anhelina Kalinina (2014 Junior RU; 2r)
Sonya Kenin (2015 Junior RU; 4r)
Anett Kontaveit (2012 Junior RU; 4r)
Ana Konjuh (2013 Junior champion; QF)
Camila Osorio (2019 Junior champion; 2r)
A.Pavlyuchenkova (2006 Junior champion; QF)
Yulia Putintseva (2010 Junior RU; QF)
Dasha Saville (2010 Junior champion; 2r)
CoCo Vandeweghe (2008 Junior champion; SF)
Wang Xiyu (2018 Junior champion; 1r)
Heather Watson (2009 Junior champion; 1r)

**BACK-TO-BACK WIMB/US TITLES - OPEN ERA**
1970 Margaret Court, AUS
1972 Billie Jean King, USA
1976 Chris Evert, USA
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd, USA
1983 Martina Navratilova, USA
1986 Martina Navratilova, USA
1987 Martina Navratilova, USA
1988 Steffi Graf, GER *
1989 Steffi Graf, GER
1993 Steffi Graf, GER
1995 Steffi Graf, GER
1996 Steffi Graf, GER
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
2000 Venus Williams, USA *
2001 Venus Williams, USA
2002 Serena Williams, USA
2012 Serena Williams, USA *
--
* - also won Olympic Gold

*RG/US TITLES IN SEASON - OPEN ERA*
1969 Margaret Court, AUS
1970 Margaret Court, AUS
1972 Billie Jean King, USA
1973 Margaret Court, AUS
1975 Chris Evert, USA
1980 Chirs Evert, USA
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA
1988 Steffi Graf, FRG
1991 Monica Seles, YUG
1992 Monica Seles, YUG
1993 Steffi Graf, GER
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1995 Steffi Graf, GER
1996 Steffi Graf, GER
2002 Serena Williams, USA
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2013 Serena Williams, USA

**RECENT U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
2015 Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza, SUI/IND
2016 Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2017 Latisha Chan / Martina Hingis, TPE/SUI
2018 Ash Barty / CoCo Vandeweghe, AUS/USA
2019 Elise Mertens / Aryna Sabalenka, BEL/BLR
2020 Laura Siegemund / Vera Zvonareva, GER/RUS
2021 Samantha Stosur / Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN

**RECENT U.S. OPEN MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
2015 Martina Hingis / Leander Paes, SUI/IND
2016 Laura Siegemund / Mate Pavic, GER/CRO
2017 Martina Hingis / Jamie Murray, SUI/GBR
2018 Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Jamie Murray, USA/GBR
2019 Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Jamie Murray, USA/GBR
2020 DNP
2021 Desirae Krawczyk / Joe Salisbury, USA/GBR

**RECENT U.S. OPEN GIRLS DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
2015 Viktoria Kuzmova / Aleksandra Pospelova, SVK/RUS
2016 Jada Myii Hart / Ena Shibahara, USA/USA
2017 Olga Danilovic / Marta Kostyuk, SRB/UKR
2018 Coco Gauff / Caty McNally, USA/USA
2019 Kamilla Bartone / Oksana Selekmeteva, LAT/RUS
2020 DNP
2021 Ashlyn Krueger / Robin Montgomery, USA/USA

**U.S. OPEN WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS**
[singles]
2005 Esther Vergeer, NED
2006 Esther Vergeer, NED
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 --
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 --
2013 Aniek van Koot, NED
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2016 --
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 Diede de Groot, NED
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
[doubles]
2005 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2006 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2007 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2008 --
2009 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 --
2013 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2016 --
2017 Marjolein Buis & Diede de Groot, NED/NED
2018 Diede de Groot & Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2020 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2021 Diede de Groot & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
--
NOTE: event not held in 2008/12/16 (Paralympics)


**RECENT WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS**
2018 AO - #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
2018 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 WI - Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED
2019 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 AO - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
2020 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 RG - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Momoko Ohtani/JPN
2021 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. KG Montjane/RSA
2021 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
2022 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

**SLAM TITLES AFTER AGE 30**
10..Serena Williams, USA (age 30-35)*
3...Martina Navratilova, USA (age 30-33)
3...Margaret Court, AUS (age 30-31)
2...Billie Jean King, USA (age 30 & 31)
2...Chris Evert, USA (age 30 & 31)
1...Flavia Pennetta, ITA (age 33)
1...Virginia Wade. GBR (age 31)
1...Ann Haydon Jones, GBR (age 30)
1...Angelique Kerber, GER (age 30)*
--
*-active

**OLDEST WOMEN'S SINGLES SLAM CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA**
Serena Williams (35y/125) - 2017 Australian
Serena Williams (34/283) - 2016 Wimbledon
Serena Williams (33/285) - 2015 Wimbledon
Martina Navratilova (33/263) - 1990 Wimbledon
Serena Williams (33/254) - 2015 Roland Garros
Flavia Pennetta (33/201) - 2015 U.S. Open
Serena Williams (33/127) - 2015 Australian

**OLDEST WOMEN'S SINGLES SLAM FINALISTS**
Serena Williams (37,347d) - lost '19 US to Andreescu
Serena Williams (37,291d) - lost '19 WI to Halep
Martina Navratilova (37y,258d) — lost '94 WI to C.Martinez
Venus Williams (37,28d) - lost '17 WI to Muguruza
Serena Williams (36/347) - lost '18 US to Osaka
Serena Williams (36/291) - lost '18 WI to Kerber
Venus Williams (36/226) — lost '17 AO to S.Williams
Serena Williams (35/125) — '17 AO, def. V.Williams

**OLDEST FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS**
33y,199d - Flavia Pennetta, 2015 U.S. Open
29y,346d - Francesca Schiavone, 2010 Roland Garros
29y,275d - Jana Novotna, 1998 Wimbledon
29y,154d - Kerry Melville-Reid, 1977 Australian Open
29y,98d - Li Na, 2011 Roland Garros
28y,277d - Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon
28y,12d - Angelique Kerber, 2016 Australian Open

**MOST SLAMS BEFORE FIRST TITLE**
49 - Flavia Pennetta (2015 U.S. Open)
47 - Marion Bartoli (2013 Wimbledon)
45 - Jana Novotna (1998 Wimbledon)
43 - Caroline Wozniacki (2018 Australian Open)
39 - Francesca Schiavone (2010 Roland Garros)
34 - Samantha Stosur (2011 U.S. Open)
33 - Angelique Kerber (2016 Australian Open)
32 - Simona Halep (2018 Roland Garros)
32 - Amelie Mauresmo (2006 Australian Open)

**RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AND RESULT AT NEXT MAJOR**
2016 Angelique Kerber (AO): Roland Garros 1st
2016 Garbine Muguruza (RG): Wimbledon 2nd
2017 Alona Ostapenko (RG): Wimbledon QF
2017 Sloane Stephens (US): Australian 1st
2018 Caroline Wozniacki (AO): Roland Garros 4th
2018 Simona Halep (RG): Wimbledon 3rd
2018 Naomi Osaka (US): Australian W
2019 Ash Barty (RG): Wimbledon 4th
2019 Bianca Andreescu (US): DNP 2020/2021 AO 2nd
2020 Sofia Kenin (AO): U.S. Open 5th
2020 Iga Swiatek (RG): Australian 4th
2021 Barbora Krejcikova (RG): Wimbledon 4th
2021 Emma Raducanu (US): Australian 2nd
2022 Elena Rybakina (WI): ?

**TEEN SLAM CHAMPS - since 1997**
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (AO)*
1997 Iva Majoli, 19 (RG)*
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (WI)
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (US)
1998 Martina Hingis, 17 (AO)
1999 Martina Hingis, 18 (AO)
1999 Serena Williams, 17 (US)*
2004 Maria Sharapova, 17 (WI)*
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 19 (US)*
2006 Maria Sharapova, 19 (US)
2019 Bianca Andreescu, 19 (AO)*
2020 Iga Swiatek, 19 (RG)*
2021 Emma Raducanu, 18 (US)*
--
* - first-time slam winner

**YOUNG SLAM FINALS SINCE 2000**
37 - 2021 US - Raducanu (18) d. Fernandez (19)
38 - 2022 RG - Swiatek (21) d. Gauff (18)
39 - 2004 WI - Sharapova (17) d. S.Williams (22)
40 - 2001 WI - V.Williams (21) d. Henin (19)
40 - 2003 RG - Henin (21) d. Clijsters (19)
40 - 2008 AO - Sharapova (20) d. Ivanovic (20)
40 - 2020 RG - Swiatek (19) d. Kenin (21)
[recent all-teen slam finals]
1997 RG - Majoli (19) d. Hingis (16)
1997 US - Hingis (16) d. V.Wiliams (17)
1999 US - S.Williams (17) d. Hingis (18)
2021 US - Raducanu (18) d. Fernandez (19)

**BIGGEST AGE DIFFERENCE IN SLAM FINAL**
18y,263 - Andreescu (19) d. S.Williams (37) = '19 U.S.
17y,45d - Seles (17) d. Navratilova (34) = '91 U.S.
16y,20d - Osaka (20) d. S.Williams (36) = '18 U.S.
15y,180d - Martinez (22) d. Navratilova (37) = '94 WI
14y,175d - Graf (18) d. Evert (33) = '88 AO
13y,113d - Muguruza (23) d. V.Williams (37) = '17 WI

**LOW RANKED IN SLAM FINAL - Open era**
NR - Evonne Goolagong, 1977 Australian (W)
NR - Kim Clijsters, 2009 US Open (W)
NR - Justine Henin, 2010 Australian
#181 - Serena Williams, 2018 Wimbledon
#150 - Emma Raducanu, 2021 US Open (W)
#111 - Chris O'Neil, 1978 Australian (W)
#83 - Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open (W)
#81 - Serena Williams, 2007 Australian (W)
#78 - Betsy Nagelson, 1978 Australian
#73 - Leylah Fernandez, 2021 US Open
#68 - Barbara Jordan, 1979 Australian (W)
#66 - Venus Williams, 1997 US Open

**FIRST-TIME SLAM SEMIFINALISTS SINCE 2018**
=2018=
AO: Elise Mertens/BEL
RG: -
WI: Julia Goerges/GER
US: Naomi Osaka/JPN (W), Anastasija Sevastova/LAT
=2019=
AO: Danielle Collins/USA
RG: Amanda Anisimova/USA, Ash Barty/AUS (W), Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (RU)
WI: Barbora Strycova/CZE, Elina Svitolina/UKR
US: Bianca Andreescu/USA (W), Belinda Bencic/SUI
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin/USA (W)
US: Jennifer Brady/USA
RG: Nadia Podoroska/ARG, Iga Swiatek/POL (W)
=2021=
AO: Jennifer Brady/USA (RU)
RG: Krejcikova/CZE (W), Pavlyuchenkova/RUS (RU), Sakkari/GRE, Zidansek/SLO
WI: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
US: Leylah Fernandez/CAN (RU), Emma Raducanu/GBR (W)
=2022=
AO: -
RG: Coco Gauff/USA (RU), Dasha Kasatkina/RUS, Martina Trevisan/ITA
WI: Ons Jabeur/TUN (RU), Tatjana Maria/GER, Elena Rybakina/KAZ (W)

**CAREER SLAM #1 SEEDS - active**
20...Serena Williams
6...Simona Halep
3...Victoria Azarenka
3...Angelique Kerber
3...Iga Swiatek (w/ 22 U.S.)
2...Naomi Osaka
2...Karolina Pliskova
1...Venus Williams
--
ALSO: Barty-7

**CAREER SLAM MD APPEARANCES - WOMEN**
91 - Venus Williams *
81 - Serena Williams *
72 - Svetlana Kuznetsova
71 - Francesca Schiavone
71 - Amy Frazier
67 - Martina Navratilova
66 - Alize Cornet *
64 - Conchita Martinez
63 - Ai Sugiyama
-
* - in '22 U.S. MD

**CONSECUTIVE SLAM MD APPEARANCES - WOMEN**
63 - Alize Cornet (active streak)
62 - Ai Sugiyama
61 - Francesca Schiavone
56 - Jelena Jankovic
54 - Nathalie Dechy
54 - Elena Likhovtseva

**EARLIEST EXIT BY SLAM #1**
[pre-Open era]
1962 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Margaret Court (lost to Billie Jean Moffitt)
[Open era]
1979 Australian Open 1st Rd. - Virginia Ruzici (lost to Mary Sawyer)
1994 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Steffi Graf (lost to Lori McNeil)
1999 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Martina Hingis (lost to Jelena Dokic)
2001 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Martina Hingis (lost to Virginia Ruano Pascual)
2017 Roland Garros 1st Rd. - Angelique Kerber (lost to Ekaterina Makarova)
2018 US Open 1st Rd. - Simona Halep (lost to Kaia Kanepi)

**RECENT SLAM JUNIOR CHAMPS**
[2020]
AO: Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND
US: DNP
RG: Elsa Jacquemot, FRA
[2021]
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE
WI: Ane Mintegi del Olmo, ESP
US: Robin Montgomery, USA
[2022]
AO: Petra Marcinko, CRO
RG: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
WI: Liv Hovde, USA





All for now.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 3:48 PM 

4 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

10 On the Up Side- Billy Joel Edition.

In a New York state of mind, we have as many candidates to win as we have neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs.

1.Pegula- One of 6 Top 26 seeds without a slam SF on her resume, if she can get by a potential 51/49 match vs Sasnovich, and as the top American, it should be a night match, she could walk away with the title.
2.Garcia- US Open is known for flyovers. With arguably the hottest player in the game flying in, she could do special things. The red flag is that after a 2013-16 stretch in which every Cinci winner reached the SF, Azarenka in 2020 is the only one to have gotten past the 4th rd.
3.Kasatkina- SF in her last slam, she could possibly leave here with more wins than she had in 2018-42. She has 37 now, and if she isn't worn down by this week, she could go far.
4.Bouzkova- More confident in her going deep before qualifiers were placed, she is one of 28 former junior champs in the field, along with Mandlik, the daughter of the 1978 French Open winner. She has a 51/49 match vs Noskova the most recent slam winner-2021 French Open in the field.
5.Sabalenka- I may not really believe in her right now, but you can't discount her because of history. Dementieva played 7 matches here in 2004, coming away with a whopping 52 DF. That was actually an improvement over the French Open, in which she hit 67.
6.Czech Teens- The 3 Amigos. Fruhvirtova. Noskova. Bejlek. Wild cards? Don't need em'. 2 of 3 should be favored, and even if they lose, winning 3 matches already this week is a great sign.
7.Pera- Normally there is an American that makes a random run, think Ahn, Burdette, Oudin. With Stearns and Mandlik being one of the few to fit that profile, why not Pera? After reaching the 3rd rd of her very first slam, she has failed to do so at the last 17. No better time to break that streak.
8.Snigur- Finally, the 2019 junior Wimbledon winner makes a slam main draw. Bad draw here, but should get a stadium court.
9.Maria- "You are a magnet, and I am the steel." What else can be said when Maria is slated to play her 4th Top 10 match of the year, but the 3rd against Sakkari. They split the first 2 meetings, and this one is for points. Also, Maria/Parry is on the alternate list for doubles. Maria's forehand slice with Parry's backhand slice would make for a fun watch.
10.Gauff- 3 weeks ago, I thought I was going to pick her to win. But an ill timed ankle injury, along with having Halep in her section, 0-4 overall, 0-3 in 22', leaves her with a frustrating draw.

Sat Aug 27, 10:11:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

10 On the Down Side.

1.Raducanu- We have a winner that is a longer shot this year than last. That is because she won 3 matches at Wimbledon and had some momentum. This year, she has played 14 events, and not won 3 matches in any. Making it to Labor Day would be a plus.
2.Rus- One of the not so magnificent 7, who would have the dubious honor of being knocked out in the first round of all 4 slams. The others are Bondar, Marino, Burel, Paolini, Yastremska and Dodin. Rus is the biggest offender, with 10 slam losses in a row, while Dodin has 9.
3.Watson- Coming off her career best slam result, a 4th rd at Wimbledon, out of 43 slams, she gets knocked out in Q, leaving her 0-10 in the MD here.
4.Vondrousova- Vondrousova=Del Potro? Since Vondrousova reached the French Open final, she has played 9 of 13 slams. After Del Potro's US Open win, he played 10 of 13. Both managed to stay healthy for an Olympic run in that stretch. Hopefully the wrist isn't chronic.
4.Kenin- Kenin=Vandeweghe? If so, don't overreact to Kenin's good week. If 2020 Kenin, with 2 slam finals=2017 Vandeweghe with 2 slam SF, what happened after? Kenin 2012-22(15-20), Vandeweghe 2018-19 to USO(11-20). It's going to be a long road.
5.Zidansek- On a 1-6 run, she hasn't had a win on hard since Australia. Her only Top 50 win this year is Sherif by W/O.
6.Sherif- Bad year, but may have lucked out. Has 5 Top 100 wins, 4 of them in 125K events. Only 3 WTA level wins, but ironically, she opens against the 1 Top 100 win she has in Kostyuk.
7.Trevisan- Clay specialist has gone 3-6 since RG, with the only win on hard being this week, after which she pulled out. More than one win would be a shock.
8.Krejcikova/Siniakova- This might mean the season. As they go for the one slam title they don't have, an early exit in doubles, as well as singles might mean that Krejcikova shuts it down for the year. Not convinced that elbow is at 100%.
9.Muguruza- Even though she could pull a Kvitova at Cinci in Guadalajara, i'm not convinced that she even plays if she puts up a poor result here. Just seems like she needs a break.
10.Haddad Maia- She has higher expectations, and replaces others that finally got off this list. Only her 10th slam MD, she has never reached the 3rd rd of a slam. No better time than the present.

Sat Aug 27, 10:34:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

That post-match video of Sara is so disturbing, I wish I'd never seen it. And no one will do anything (some of the comments on Twitter, defending the behavior of the men, are even more disturbing).

Sun Aug 28, 10:23:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-

Yeah, the wandering hands were more than a bit creepy. :/


C-

From the regular post...

=4th Round=
#24 Anisimova def. #1 Swiatek
#8 Pegula def. Pera
#22 Pliskova def. #4 Badosa
#25 Rybakina def. Juvan
#7 Halep def. #12 Gauff
#17 Garcia def. #3 Sakkari
#10 Kasatkina def. #31 Rogers
Samsonova def. Tomljanovic

...Serena's Open history and current draw says that she could surely get this far (at least) -- in Tomljanovic's slot here -- but I'm not going to fall into the trap of thinking that *that* Williams is in *this* draw in 2022.

=QF=
#8 Pegula def. #24 Anisimova
#25 Rybakina def. #22 Pliskova
#7 Halep def. #17 Garcia
Samsonova def. #10 Kasatkina

...Samsonova in a slam SF was one of my preseason Blowout picks. Finally, she's at least a legitimate option, so I'm not going to miss out on my last shot this year to hit the proverbial nail on the head. In an alternate reality, I might take a flier on Garcia to take off here and land the title.

=SF=
#8 Pegula def. #25 Rybakina
#7 Halep def. Samsonova

...New York has never particularly been Simona's vibe. But the same could have been said about Wimbledon before 2019.

=FINAL=
#7 Halep def. #8 Pegula

...a chance for Pegula to "re-do" that Toronto semi. Or not.

Sun Aug 28, 03:58:00 PM EDT  

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