US Open forecast - Women’s Singles

The 2018 US Open Women’s Singles title is far from predictable, with a number of players having valid claims as to why they should be seriously considered.

That said, top seed and world number one Simona Halep is the one to beat.  Despite her difficult draw, including a likely third round clash with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, fourth round thriller against one of the Williams sisters, quarter final meeting with Karolina Pliskova or Garbiñe Muguruza, and semi final against defending champion Sloane Stephens.

Ash Barty (18) could be a spoiler in all of this.

In the top half of the draw, I don’t foresee any trouble for Simona before the round of sixteen.

Venus Williams (16) has fellow former US champion Sveta Kuznetsova as a first round challenge, and assuming she clears that hurdle, will probably run into her sister Serena (17) in round three.

The winner will provide Halep a tough task, mentally more than anything, taking into account the venue and crowd.

I believe that Simona has built up a strong emotional defence to deal with these issues, and can overcome a Williams sister this US Open.

Her match with Sloane Stephens will possibly be the women’s match of the tournament, given their recent rivalry and success.

Sloane has prominent players in her quarter with which she may have to deal, including Julia Goerges (9), Elise Mertens (15) and Elina Svitolina (7).  Mertens is the one I rate as a slight danger, but only that.

So from the top half I will predict a semi final as per the seedings - Simona Halep (1) v Sloane Stephens (3)

In the bottom half of the draw, things are less straightforward.  

The round of sixteen, if the early matches are decided by ranking, should give us Kiki Bertens (13), winner in Cincinnati a week or so ago, versus Caroline Wozniacki (2), who lost to Bertens in the Cincinnati first round, albeit it was a retirement after losing the opening set.

Also it should feature 2016 champion Angie Kerber (4) against last years finalist Madison Keys (14)

Petra Kvitova (5), if she has completely recovered from her shoulder injury, should be a key player in this years event, and possibly repeat last years effort of a quarter final appearance.  Maybe more.

She is drawn to play Daria Kasatkina (11) in the fourth round.

Aryna Sabalenka is the big danger here and could well stop Petra based on her outstanding US form to date.

Maria Sharapova could be the unseeded player to make some trouble in the quarter featuring Caroline Garcia (6) and Jelena Ostapenko (10).

Neither Garcia nor Ostapenko have travelled further than the third round at Flushing Meadows, and this record gives hope to Maria and others such as Johanna Konta, Monica Puig and Kiki Mladenovic.

I have no confidence in this selection but it is what it is.

Semi finalists from the top half - Simona Halep (1) v Sloane Stephens (3)

Semi finalists from the bottom half - Angie Kerber (4) v Kiki Bertens (13)

Final between Sloane Stephens (3) and Angie Kerber (4), with Stephens successfully defending her title.