tenisplayrla08
Major Winner
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As for a draw break down.....
I wrote it. And it was long. And pointless. Because I am at a loss. I have no idea. None. Too many top players not at their best. Too many good unseeded players that could pull upsets. We keep seeing these runs by unheralded players, because the heralded players are beatable and the depth on the WTA is fantastic and even if the top players start well and start to rise to the top, they are still prone to just going off the boil and blowing it.
I'll say that I'm not on the Andreescu train. Though I don't think it's crazy. She's in a good spot, because of the likelihood of those around her to just up and lose to lesser players for no good reason. But Halep will do her best to have something to say about Andreescu.
Serena is in a good spot. Not sure you can call it Barty's quarter.
Pliskova's quarter is loaded. But I could still see this being the year she takes this thing. She could finally be the last one standing. But it would be along the lines of that metaphor. The WTA is so prone to upsets at this point, who ever wins this thing, could be a total surprise. Or rather, will be a bit of a surprise, even though it will likely be one of the top players to take it. We just don't know which one.
I seriously can't pick for or against any or too many of the top threats. I could see Bertens take this thing as easily as Osaka or Sabalenka or Bencic (all in the first quarter) or Serena or Barty or Halep or Kvitova or Andreescu or Pliskova or Kenin or Keys or Svitolina. I'm struggling to believe in Stephens right now. She seems to be more down than any of the other ladies, even the one who have cooled off. Like Bencic and Bertens and Sabalenka and Osaka.
I think Serena has shown enough to suggest she is a top favorite. A finalist in her last two tournaments. Finalist here last year. A winnable quarter. She'd love to finally get the 24th slam monkey off her back. But then there's the question of the injury she pulled out of the Canada final and Cincy with. Has she played enough? We keep asking that question and she keeps making finals.
I'm probably more excited about the possible runs from the unseeded. The Vika's and Kanepi's and Gauffs. Or can Svitolina make good on her considerable promise. She's STILL riding under the radar after Wimbledon. But that's largely because she didn't win much after Wimbledon.
All this gives me hope for someone like Sloane. Her draw isn't exactly favorable to her playing herself in to form. But it isn't exactly a prohibitively difficult draw either. If she survives her first round and survives another encounter with Kuznetsova, neither of which is guaranteed or highly likely, it won't get much easier from there. But it may be enough for her to feel good again. And while I'm not inclined to think having Kamau Murray back in the camp will suddenly fix everything. It can't hurt. And if she can build momentum, he could be just the guy to help her use it. BUT. This could be said about half the seeds.
I wrote it. And it was long. And pointless. Because I am at a loss. I have no idea. None. Too many top players not at their best. Too many good unseeded players that could pull upsets. We keep seeing these runs by unheralded players, because the heralded players are beatable and the depth on the WTA is fantastic and even if the top players start well and start to rise to the top, they are still prone to just going off the boil and blowing it.
I'll say that I'm not on the Andreescu train. Though I don't think it's crazy. She's in a good spot, because of the likelihood of those around her to just up and lose to lesser players for no good reason. But Halep will do her best to have something to say about Andreescu.
Serena is in a good spot. Not sure you can call it Barty's quarter.
Pliskova's quarter is loaded. But I could still see this being the year she takes this thing. She could finally be the last one standing. But it would be along the lines of that metaphor. The WTA is so prone to upsets at this point, who ever wins this thing, could be a total surprise. Or rather, will be a bit of a surprise, even though it will likely be one of the top players to take it. We just don't know which one.
I seriously can't pick for or against any or too many of the top threats. I could see Bertens take this thing as easily as Osaka or Sabalenka or Bencic (all in the first quarter) or Serena or Barty or Halep or Kvitova or Andreescu or Pliskova or Kenin or Keys or Svitolina. I'm struggling to believe in Stephens right now. She seems to be more down than any of the other ladies, even the one who have cooled off. Like Bencic and Bertens and Sabalenka and Osaka.
I think Serena has shown enough to suggest she is a top favorite. A finalist in her last two tournaments. Finalist here last year. A winnable quarter. She'd love to finally get the 24th slam monkey off her back. But then there's the question of the injury she pulled out of the Canada final and Cincy with. Has she played enough? We keep asking that question and she keeps making finals.
I'm probably more excited about the possible runs from the unseeded. The Vika's and Kanepi's and Gauffs. Or can Svitolina make good on her considerable promise. She's STILL riding under the radar after Wimbledon. But that's largely because she didn't win much after Wimbledon.
All this gives me hope for someone like Sloane. Her draw isn't exactly favorable to her playing herself in to form. But it isn't exactly a prohibitively difficult draw either. If she survives her first round and survives another encounter with Kuznetsova, neither of which is guaranteed or highly likely, it won't get much easier from there. But it may be enough for her to feel good again. And while I'm not inclined to think having Kamau Murray back in the camp will suddenly fix everything. It can't hurt. And if she can build momentum, he could be just the guy to help her use it. BUT. This could be said about half the seeds.
