The 2013 US Open Women’s Singles draw was revealed on Thursday with world No. 1 Serena Williams in the first spot in the top half of the draw and world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka in the last spot of the bottom half of the draw, setting up a potential rematch of last year’s three-set final.
The women’s side of the draw has seen a few major shakeups of late, with the unexpected retirement of 2013 Wimbledon champion and world No. 7 Marion Bartoli and Wednesday night’s withdrawal of No. 3 Maria Sharapova due to a shoulder injury. The players who benefitted the most from the losses are Sara Errani, who moves from fifth to fourth, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who slides into the 32nd and final seed.
Serena is the favorite to take home her fifth US Open title. She’s entering Flushing Meadows hot, gong 60-4 on the year and having won in Toronto and reached the final in Cincinnati to win the Emirates Airline US Open Series women's title. That means that if she wins the US Open this year, she will take home the largest purse in the history of tennis, at $3.6 million ($2.6 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open as Series champion).
Though Serena won the 2013 French Open, she was ousted earlier than expected from this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon at the hands of players now on her side of the US Open draw. A potential fourth-round matchup is fellow American Sloane Stephens, seeded 15th, who upset her in the quarterfinals in Australia, and German Sabine Lisicki, who toppled her in the fourth round of Wimbeldon, looms as a potential semifinal opponent. And before that, Serena would have to knock off fellow Grand Slam champion Francesca Schiavone and, potentially, sister Venus in the quarters.
Here's a look at a few notable first-round matchups not to miss:
Serena Williams [1] vs. Francesca Schiavone
Serena’s opening match is against 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who has been hovering in the Top 10 and Top 20 for the better part of 10 years. The 33-year-old Italian is a wily player with a varied game, and while her best success has come on clay, she's not afraid to approach the net. She’s also enjoyed some success at the US Open, making it to the quarterfinals twice, though Serena has the advantageous record against her, winning five of their seven matches.
Jelena Jankovic [9] vs. Madison Keys
Young American Madison Keys will play the No. 9 seed and former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in her first-round match. The 18-year-old Keys is having a breakout season, advancing to the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon - her best Grand Slam performances to date - and rocketing through the rankings from No. 149 at the end of 2012 to her current rank of 40. Jankovic, a counter puncher who has enjoyed a recent resurgence, will be a tough test for the fast-rising Keys, who employs one of the biggest serves in the women's game.
Kirsten Flipkens [12] vs. Venus Williams
It’s possible that fans might see another all-Williams match in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Venus a real threat to meet Serena in the quarters. But first the 33-year-old two-time US Open champion has to get through No. 12 seed Kirsten Flipkens in round one, which won’t be an easy task. Though Venus has the edge on size and power, standing at 6-foot-1 to Flipkens’ 5-5, the 27-year-old Belgian has confidence on her side, having beaten Venus in the first round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto earlier this month and posting her best Grand Slam performance at this year’s Wimbledon, where she advanced to the semifinals.
Serena is the favorite to take home her fifth US Open title. She’s entering Flushing Meadows hot, gong 60-4 on the year and having won in Toronto and reached the final in Cincinnati to win the Emirates Airline US Open Series women's title. That means that if she wins the US Open this year, she will take home the largest purse in the history of tennis, at $3.6 million ($2.6 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open as Series champion).
Though Serena won the 2013 French Open, she was ousted earlier than expected from this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon at the hands of players now on her side of the US Open draw. A potential fourth-round matchup is fellow American Sloane Stephens, seeded 15th, who upset her in the quarterfinals in Australia, and German Sabine Lisicki, who toppled her in the fourth round of Wimbeldon, looms as a potential semifinal opponent. And before that, Serena would have to knock off fellow Grand Slam champion Francesca Schiavone and, potentially, sister Venus in the quarters.
Here's a look at a few notable first-round matchups not to miss:
Serena Williams [1] vs. Francesca Schiavone
Serena’s opening match is against 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who has been hovering in the Top 10 and Top 20 for the better part of 10 years. The 33-year-old Italian is a wily player with a varied game, and while her best success has come on clay, she's not afraid to approach the net. She’s also enjoyed some success at the US Open, making it to the quarterfinals twice, though Serena has the advantageous record against her, winning five of their seven matches.
Jelena Jankovic [9] vs. Madison Keys
Young American Madison Keys will play the No. 9 seed and former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in her first-round match. The 18-year-old Keys is having a breakout season, advancing to the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon - her best Grand Slam performances to date - and rocketing through the rankings from No. 149 at the end of 2012 to her current rank of 40. Jankovic, a counter puncher who has enjoyed a recent resurgence, will be a tough test for the fast-rising Keys, who employs one of the biggest serves in the women's game.
Kirsten Flipkens [12] vs. Venus Williams
It’s possible that fans might see another all-Williams match in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Venus a real threat to meet Serena in the quarters. But first the 33-year-old two-time US Open champion has to get through No. 12 seed Kirsten Flipkens in round one, which won’t be an easy task. Though Venus has the edge on size and power, standing at 6-foot-1 to Flipkens’ 5-5, the 27-year-old Belgian has confidence on her side, having beaten Venus in the first round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto earlier this month and posting her best Grand Slam performance at this year’s Wimbledon, where she advanced to the semifinals.
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