US Open Contenders: The Women

“I’m literally just getting started.”

Serena Williams offered these words to encouraging fans in the wake of her loss to Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final.

She may not have realized at the time how true that sentiment was. Since her incredible run to the Wimbledon final, Williams’ road back to the top is already throwing twists in her path. She lost 6-1, 6-0 to Johanna Konta in San Jose, the worst loss of her career. She later withdrew from Montreal, and this week, she was tossed out of Cincinnati by Petra Kvitova.

Still, the US Open will feature Williams as a favorite to win it all. But a growing list of contenders can put their stamp on the tournament and emerge the victor. That list could easily stretch 20 names long, such is the depth and quality of the women’s tour, but here’s a cross-section:

1

Angelique Kerber

The new Wimbledon champion has delivered the goods this year, making the quarters or better at every Slam. After a spotty 2017, Kerber looks like the elite top player who’s won two Slams in 2016—a rarity for any player not named Williams. She’ll look to redeem a first-found exit last year and grind her way into contention.

2

Simona Halep

The Roland Garros champion and reigning world No. 1 has to be considered one of the favorites. Chalk up her third-round Wimbledon loss—a match in which she actually played fairly well—to a French Open hangover. Come late August, the Montreal champion should be refreshed and ready to go for a deep run at yet another major.

3

Sloane Stephens

As the defending US Open champion and world No. 3, the American will have to cope with an unfamiliar position: For the first time in her career, the bullseye’s on her back. If she can keep her trademark cool composure, a third final in the last five Slams is well within reach.

4

Madison Keys

Keys remains one of the most dangerous players on the tour. Seemingly possessing all the weapons to win a Slam, she runs into trouble against counterpunchers like Kerber and Stephens, whom she fell to in last year’s final. If she’s going to win her first Slam, she’ll have to go through at least one of them. Keys' wrist health remains an open question at this point as well.

5

Caroline Wozniacki

Prior to becoming a Grand Slam champ at the Australian Open, Wozniacki had enjoyed her best results at the US Open, with two finals and three semifinal finishes. After two middling performances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, look for Wozniacki’s inspiration to return in New York, where she feels right at home.

1

Kiki Bertens

Bertens is quietly having an excellent year, notching some impressive wins against Wozniacki, Venus Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Garcia, to name a few. She parlayed all that momentum into a quarterfinals appearance at Wimbledon and now finds herself squarely in the Top 20. She’s exactly the type of player who can sneak her way through the draw and into the final four.

2

Daria Kasatkina

The young Russian has made the second week of her last two Slams and never shirks from a big stage. She seems poised to breakthrough and at least make her first semifinal.

Maria Sharapova & Venus Williams

Neither player is having the type of season she'd hoped, and they’re not exactly the kind of players who can suddenly flip a switch and find themselves deep into the second week of a Slam. Their mental toughness is legendary, though, and if they can battle through the first couple of rounds without their best tennis, look for them to start recovering the form that’s eluded them all season.