There is more unpredictability when considering the Womens Singles at the 2022 US Open, than the men.
However, while several chances may exist in the draw for travelling deep into the tournament, there are realistically only a small group with genuine claims to the title.
I don’t envisage a repeat of last year, where the finalists took the universe by complete surprise.
Iga Swiatek has actually lost a couple of matches recently, but she has earned her spot as clear world number one and number one seed this fortnight.
Her quarter includes three other Grand Slam champions, and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens looms as a second round opponent.
Round of sixteen is where the fun starts, and it could be either Jelena Ostapenko (16) or Amanda Anisimova (24) that Iga has to bypass in order to reach the quarters.
Based on their records, it shouldn’t be difficult. Ostapenko last played the US Open in 2019, where she made the third round - her equal best at the event.
Anisimova exited at the second round last year, and her best has also been a third round in 2020.
The section from which Iga will find her quarter final opponent includes five qualifiers and a wildcard. It also features two Grand Slam champions - one sadly out of form Garbiñe Muguruza (8) and one very in form Petra Kvitova (21).
Muguruza has won just 9 matches this year from 23 starts, while Kvitova has won 22 from 38, with one title and a final appearance in Cincinnati this month.
Jessica Pegula (8) is the other prominent seed in the section, and drawn to play Swiatek in the quarters. Pegula has had an outstanding year, and cracked the top ten for the first time.
It should be a battle between her and Kvitova, but I’m favouring Kvitova.
The top half of the draw involves two other quarters, and one is headed by Paula Badosa (4).
Badosa comes to New York lacking match practice, losing her opening matches in both Toronto and Cincinnati. (in Toronto she retired injured after dropping the first set).
And the likely prospect of facing 2020 finalist Victoria Azarenka (26) in the third round is not at all appetising.
The winner of that match may be in a round of sixteen battle with either Belinda Bencic (13) of Karolina Pliskova (22).
Bencic was a quarter finalist last year and semi finalist in 2020. But she should be wary of a possible second round clash with Sorana Cirstea who defeated her in Cincinnati last match.
Pliskova was also a quarter finalist last year, and finalist in 2016.
On form, I see Pliskova defeating Azarenka to reach another quarter final this year.
Last years winner Emma Raducanu (11) is in the other quarter, and she has a tough first round engagement with Alizé Cornet.
Danielle Collins (19) is seeded to meet Raducanu in the third round, but the American has twice former champion Naomi Osaka to overcome in the first round.
Others in the quarter are last years semi finalist Aryna Sabalenka (6), this years Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina (25), and dual former champion here Venus Williams.
If her serve can hold together, I believe Sabalenka has the game to make a quarter final against Pliskova.
The top quarter of the bottom half is loaded with players in form.
Simona Halep (7) won the Toronto 1000 tournament earlier this month and is back in the top ten.
Simona should meet Jil Teichmann (30) in the third round, a player she defeated in the round of sixteen in Toronto.
Madison Keys (20) made the semis in Cincinnati, losing a three setter to Petra Kvitová.
Her third round opponent is likely to be CoCo Gauff (12), although Gauff may have to deal with Daria Saville in the second round, Saville having just made the Granby final.
Halep will win through over Gauff, as she did in the Toronto quarters.
The other section of the quarter has Beatriz Haddad Maia (15), twice a winner this year, and defeated by Halep in three sets in the Toronto final.
Beatriz should have a great third round contest with Caroline Garcia (17).
Garcia has won three titles in 2022, including Cincinnati this month.
Maria Sakkari (3) is the top seed in the quarter but only has one win from four matches since Wimbledon.
My tip is a Halep v Garcia quarter final.
In the bottom quarter, Ons Jabeur (5) should have a third round encounter with Shelby Rogers (31) (finalist in San Jose).
Daria Kasatkina (10) just won the Granby final, following her trophy in San Jose, both in August, and after knocking over Veronika Kudermetova (18) I predict will defeat Shelby Rogers in the round of sixteen.
Since returning from injury, last years finalist Leylah Fernandez (14) has struggled - one win from only three matches in August after Roland Garros.
This doesn’t augur well, especially with the likelihood of facing Liudmila Samsonova in the second round. Samsonova just won the Cleveland title.
Barbora Krejcikova (23) should be a third round opponent, despite her indifferent form of late.
Serena Williams sits unseeded in the bottom section, with second seed Anett Kontaveit a likely second round match up.
Martina Trevisan (27) is under an injury cloud, while unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic is a dark horse, her quarter final effort from qualifying in Cincinnati not to be underestimated.
Hard to pick, but for me it’s a Kasatkina v Liudmila Samsonova quarter final.
My predictions:
Quarter finals:
Iga Swiatek (1) to defeat Petra Kvitova (21)
Aryna Sabalenka (6) to defeat Karolina Pliskova (22)
Simona Halep (7) to defeat Caroline Garcia (17)
Daria Kasatkina (10) to defeat Liudmila Samsonova
Semi finals:
Iga Swiatek (1) to defeat Aryna Sabalenka (6)
Simona Halep (7) to defeat Daria Kasatkina (10)
Final:
Simona Halep (7) to defeat Iga Swiatek (1)
