US Open Women's Singles Preview
Women's Tennis Final Grand Slam Takes Center Stage in New York City
Aug 27, 2007
The big story at the US Open for the women begins with S E X! In case you misunderstood, the letters S E and X are the first three letters in “sextet,” and the following six players will carry the melody for the women’s tennis symphony at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York from August 27 – September 9.
Same Sextet of Players Make the Show
Justine Henin, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic are featured soloists in the WTA orchestra, but it is the interwoven chords that they strike together that will sell the sometimes harmonic, often cacophonic sounds and, uh, shrieks that will echo from Arthur Ashe Stadium during the two riveting tennis weeks that sandwich Labor Day.
Henin Still the Favorite
With her WTA Tour-leading six titles and a claimed title on the hard courts of Montreal in her first event since Wimbledon, No.1 seed Justine Henin’s voice has to garner serious consideration for top soloist. Of course the enigmas known as “The Williams Sisters,” Serena (seeded No.8) and Venus (seeded No.12) make as much noise as any duet in the draw. The only thing we can be sure of with the most dynamic of duos is that they won’t be making music together in the final. The sisters are seeded to meet in one semifinal if they overcome their obstacles in earlier rounds.
Williams Sisters must Overcome Obstacles
How considerable are those obstacles? Serena should hum along easily through the fourth round, getting past either No.10 seed Marion Bartoli who made it to the Wimbledon final, but has done nothing since, or No.20 seed Lucie Safarova in the fourth round. But then she is likely to be facing the discordant sounds of Henin’s fortisimo backhand and staccato forehand in the quarters. Never easy to call, the edge must go to Henin who is presumably healthier and has rehearsed a bit more with a hard court title under her belt during the US Open Series.
Can Venus Vanquish both Serbs?
To make it to the semis, Venus will have to tune out the improving Ashley Harkleroad in round two, and out-fiddle in the fourth round and quarterfinals, respectively, the No.4 and No.3 seeds, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. Those two are a combined 103-29 with six titles claimed this season. If anyone can manage such a feat it would be Venus who plays second fiddle to no one when it comes to pulling off the improbable. Venus crushed Ivanovic in the Wimbledon final this year, but has lost three in a row to Jankovic. A healthy Jankovic is a good bet to sneak by Venus in a thriller, setting up a true crescendo with Henin in the semis.
Sharapova Shrieking her Way to Final?
As seems to be the case more often than not, No.2 seed Maria Sharapova has a draw that all but guarantees a premier position in the final movement of the Open. Of course, one never knows whether Sharapova will bring a serve to the court that matches the hype on the program. If she doesn’t, She may be snapping pictures in NYC rather than slapping forehands at the US Open by the fourth round, where she is scheduled to collide with No.13 seed Nicole Vaidisova.
Little in Sharapova's Way
Other potential stumbling blocks for Sharapova on the bottom-half of the draw include No.6 seed Anna Chakvetadze, who has never beaten Sharapova; No.7 seed Nadia Petrova, who has lost to Sharapova the last three times they’ve played, and No.4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, with whom Sharapova trades victories, but who has not put forth her best voice on the court recently.
Kuznetsova off her Game
Kuznetsova won at the Pilot Penn in New Haven, but received her final three wins of the event by opponents’ withdrawing due to injury. In the previous event, Kuznetsova lost to No.19 ranked and 17-seeded Tatiana Golovin in the quarters in Toronto. If both Sharapova and Kuznetsova reach their scheduled semifinal berths, Sharapova should be facing the survivor of the draw’s top-half in the final.
A Naughty Note
Barely audible but worthy of a listen is the note struck by No.17 seed Tatiana Golovin. Is she likely to receive rave reviews for her tennis as she did in Toronto, or to be panned for her underwear as she was at Wimbledon? In Toronto Golovin beat Kuznetsova in the quarters before falling Jankovic in the semis in three sets. Comparisons to Anna Kournikova will likely sound loudly if she fails to perform.
Who Will Take the Bow?
When all have played and the last sounds have faded, as has been the case in each of the Grand Slams this year, Justine Henin, the Williams sisters, Maria Sharapova, and the Serbian serenaders, Ivanovic and Jankovic, will have determined who took the last bow.
