Distraction or mental and physical exhaustion are the two factors that may prevent Serena from winning the 2012 US Open. Otherwise she is the pick for this year.
Serena has been unbelievable in the last 2 months. She lost to Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4 in Cincinnati only because she was completely worn from a mental and physical point of view. Besides that, she was the one… the only one since Wimbledon. She also made history at the Olympics in London by trashing just everybody on her path.(the current and four former world no.1)
So it is pretty clear she is the favourite to win also this one. But let’s see quarter by quarter.
Q1 – Azarenka
Vika is not the same dominant player as the start of the season, but she is still damn good. She has a smooth path in her quarter. Prediction
1st Round: Panova
2nd Round: Strycova
3rd Round: Zheng
4th Round: Lisiki/Goerges
Quarters: Stosur (Clijster is also an option)
Head to Head
Azarenaka – Stosur-> 6-0 for Azarenka
Q2 – Sharapova
Sweet Maria is ready for the US Open after the launch of her candy line. She also had a smooth draw to probably play
1st Round: Czink
2nd Round: Karatantcheva
3rd Round: Medina Garrigues
4th Round: Safarova/Petrova
Quarters: Kvitova
Head to Head
Sharapova – Kvitova -> 4-2 Sharapova, Maria won the last 3 matches
Q3 – Serena Williams
Serena has a very relaxed path to the quarters, She has to be careful not to fall asleep.
1st Round: Wandeweghe
2nd Round: Lucic/Martinez Sanchez
3rd Round: Peng
4th Round: Kirilenko
Quarters: Wozniacki
Head to Head
Williams – Wozniacki-> 5-1 for Serena that defeated her in the 2011 Us Open semifinals 6-2 6-4
Q4 – Radwanska
We can’t see many problems for the world no.2
1st Round: Bratchikova
2nd Round: Suarez Navarro
3rd Round: Jankovic (not in her prime but always dangerous)
4th Round: Cibulkova (careful to Shvedva and Barthel, both a re unpredictable and dangerous)
Quarters: Kerber
Hea to Head
Radwanska – Kerber -> 3-2 for Radwanska, but Kerber defeated her in the 2nd round of the 2011 US Open 6-3 4-6 6-3
