Just yesterday, I posted my top 5 2011 US Open picks on the men’s side. Now I present you with my top 5 potential winner on the ladies side of the US Open.
With so many changes in rankings, and the recent wins and losses in the top 100 of the WTA, it’s hard to be really sure if I’m going to hit the mark with my picks. This has already been a crazy year, with Kim Clijsters winning down under, Na Li on the red clay of Paris, and Kvitova dominating on the grass at Wimbledon; it’s going to be hard to accurately predict the 2011 USO winner. It’s anybody’s chance this year, so here are the top 5 potential winners:
- Maria Sharapova- The 2006 US Open Champion is already looking like her old self. After a terrible 2009-2010 tennis season (most due to the shoulder surgery she had at the end of 2008), she’s come back and kicking some major tennis butt. Sharapova is already nestled back in the top 10, a runner-up finish at 2011 Wimbledon, and an improved attitude. Maria could certainly take the 2011 US Open by storm, though I could deal without the screeching.
- Andrea Petkovic- The entertaining German powerhouse could certainly be a serious contender this year at the Open. Andrea has come into her own this year, reaching the quarterfinals of Australia, Roland Garros, runner-up at Brisbane, semifinalist at Carlsbad, and broke though to the top 10 on the WTA rankings. I would love to see her reach the finals and win the US Open, she’s a powerful and smart player, with wins over big opponents (Wozniacki, Jankovic, and Sharapova). She’s got what it’s takes to be a contender, looking forward to her post win “Petko Dance or Petko Moon-Walk”.
- Kim Clijsters- Why wouldn’t I put the defending champion on this list? Last year she stomped on Vera Zvonareva in the final, 6-2, 6-1 which was hardly a tennis match. This year, however; Kim could face more powerful competition; I don’t really see her dominating like the previous two years but she could very well get an easy draw and cruise into the finals. Clijsters ‘cruising’ into the finals is all contingent on her health, the last couple of months, she has had ankle injuries that have pulled her out of Wimbledon, Carlsbad, and now the Rogers Cup. We’ll see if she is up to defending her 2010 US Open title.
- Petra Kvitova- I really like Petra’s chances of reaching the 2011 US Open finals. She’s got such a well balanced tennis game, one that could very well cause fits for every player in her draw. The 2011 Wimbledon Champion has what it takes to go the distance, sounds footwork, powerful groundstrokes, and solid serves. Of course, this is all considering she’s in good shape to compete, she has already withdrawn from Carlsbad with an abdominal injury. If she plays like she did at the All England Club, she’s likely to do exceptionally well at the 2011 USO.
- Vera Zvonareva- The runner-up of the 2010 US Open, 2010 Wimbledon, and semifinalist at the 2011 Australian Open. Could this be the year she get’s her head on straight and avoids the meltdowns she’s had in prior years to actually win a major? I think this could be her year to capture that elusive title that she’s been chasing for some time now. Her strokes are spot on and powerful to take it to every player that gets in her way. She’s got the gift, she’s going to have to really work on remaining calm and just play tennis.
I picked some obvious players and some wishful players, either way, I’m pretty confident with my selection. One thing that you probably picked up on, is the fact that either of the Williams sisters are not on this list. Shouldn’t they be? After they’ve won a combined 5 US Open titles, so they should be in the mix. Or not, you see, I’ve never been a fan of either of the Williams’. I do appreciate the powerful tennis game they each posses, however; their poor attitudes really taint the appreciation for me.
In any event, I’m looking forward to the 2011 US Open and watching the celebrations, disappointments, winners, errors, and the sweat that each player will have dripping down their determined faces.
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Thank you for leaving out the Williams sisters. I’m tired of all of the attention they get whether it be positive or not. Yes, they have done much for women’s tennis, but some of that is negative. I was appalled at Serena’s behavior toward line judges. I can’t believe she isn’t thrown off the court!
Her “better than thou” attitude makes me cringe. It was so refreshing to watch tournaments without her being there. I appreciate seeing more of the well behaved and dignified players!
Mary you are an idiot. The William sisters have always performed with great sportsmanship. The one blip was Serena’s outbusrt in 2009 at the US Open. At least be honest enough to say that you just don’t like them. And they are two seperate individuals. Nothing negative has been attributed to Venus ever. And as for the picks. This is no expert. Serena reigns supreme, and the tennis world will disagree with you. Serena brings fans to the court and money to the tournament. So Mary, who cares if you don’t like them. Serena will win the Open, and there place in history is secured. By the way, did you watch Stanford and Toronto tournaments. I guess you really cringed when Serena kicked your favorites collective butts to win both tournaments and secure herself as the one to beat at Flushing Meadows. And G.O.A.T. knows Sharapova is not the favorite. As one writer put it, this is no expert list, this is a “Wish List”.
So you are calling me an idiot. That’s classy!
Just the type of language I would expect from someone who thinks that Serena is a class act.
If your comprehension skills were better, I just thanked him for leaving out the sisters in his top picks. It’s that I’m tired of hearing about them. I like more dignified players! Serena is a superb tennis player and yes, wins, wins, wins…I’m just glad she wasn’t mentioned in his article. It is his opinion, and he doesn’t know it all (just like you don’t either) It’s an opinion. Get your tennis panties out of a wad. You can disagree all you want, but that is no reason to call someone an idiot. Do you have a doctorate degree, support yourself and your family, run an agency and have people who depend on your expertise? I didn’t think so. Well I do.
I’m encouraged by people’s opinions. I respect them as well and would never condescend to such asinine language especially regarding a matter such as this.
AND for your information…that is not the only time Serena blatantly accosted a linesman!
I’d rather see good tennis-not a holier than thou attitude!
O.K. That venting felt good!
dh, what were you saying about sportsmanship and only ONE blip from Serena? Looks like Mary was ‘spot on the money’ with her observations.. For Serena to imply racism by the line umpire and also insult and THREATEN the line umpire is a disgrace.
This behaviour is testament to her shocking attitude and lack of true sportsmanship. ‘Good on ya’ Sam Stosur!
I do not think that Erica is has insulted u. What she said was her opinion and also true. If u are an expert as u claim, u should not rely on your liking or not liking a player to state who is favorite or not. U have proven that ur list has nothing to do with expertise. It is just a wishlist.
The only player I consider in ur list to be favorite are Zvonareva, Kvitova and Clijsters. Other players are Williams, Stosur, Radwanska or maybe Azarenka.
Believe it or not, you will be very disappointed. Petkovic is no favorite. She has very limited playing skills and seem to have a good physical condition. Her serve skill is very week to be considered as a great player. So my advice to u: rethink ur list and think about the real reason to the fact that u do not like the Williams sister.
To conclude: it is not about who u like but about who can win the US open.
I would say that the 5 ladies you picked are pretty solid players. I’m glad you didn’t include either of the Williams’ sisters, I’m tired of their anticks and lack of sportsmanship.
The person who replied to this post, you must be really dumb to think that the 5 picks were bad, you really know nothing about tennis. Obviously the 5 were picked based on strong performance on tour, where as Serena has not performed much at all this year. Get a clue.
Thanks for a solid top 5 list tennisthis.com!
I am sick of people always criticizing the Williams sisters. There are not perfect, but I find it somehow inappropriate to take that as a reason for their not being among the favorites. It is about playing skills not about the attitude. Talking about the lack of sportmanship of the sisters, could u please state two or three examples …
Have u checked on the rationality of your statement? Because of the so called bad attitude of the Williams sister they are not considered as being favorites. For me Venus is no favorite, but Serena is. She has been in two tournament and won them all, the Roger cup being considered like a mini grand slam.
Did u watch the match Serena Williams vs Sharapova? Serena won 6:1 6:3. In Toronto Sharapova could not even reach the quater final.
Please give me a break and let us just be objective.
Landry, my suggestion to you for being so sick of people criticizing the Williams sister, is to just turn a blind eye. You have the option to not read articles about them and you don’t have to comment on those articles. Your statement of the tournaments that Serena has played in incorrect, she’s played 4 tournaments and lost 2. How could you possibly argue the fact that they have bad attitudes, since they haven’t played the “5th grand slam” since 2001, how is turning your back on your fans and WTA a positive reflection of who they are?
Anyway Landry, based on this comment and your comment from yesterday, you have obviously did not read the article in it’s entirety, “I picked some obvious players and some wishful players, either way, I’m pretty confident with my selection. One thing that you probably picked up on, is the fact that either of the Williams sisters are not on this list. Shouldn’t they be? After they’ve won a combined 5 US Open titles, so they should be in the mix. Or not, you see, I’ve never been a fan of either of the Williams’. I do appreciate the powerful tennis game they each posses, however; their poor attitudes really taint the appreciation for me.” I bolded the area where I told you where it was my opinion.
If you were publicly humiliated and called a Nigger by the crowd, you wouldn’t play that tournament either. There s a reason they don’t play it, and I respect their resolve. You are still an idiot. What about Roddick’s bad attitude, or McEnroe, do you dislike them also. Give it a rest. My guess is you are also a bigot, although you will probably say you aren’t. Doesn’t matter, the Williams sisters have millions of fans, and I know your opinion means absolutely nothing to them. Remember, they don’t put critics in the halls of fame. Their accomplishments will live on long after you have left the planet. That is merely a fact.
dh,
First of all, nobody has actual proof or evidence that the N-word was used. If you payed any attention to what happened at Indian Wells, you would know that Richard Williams (their father and coach) supposedly heard somebody in the stands say a racial comment. Furthermore, the Williams sisters were not humiliated by the crowd, it was Richard who forced them to not play there.
And yes, I don’t like Roddick anymore, I’m exhausted by his juvenile behavior on the court, to judges, and the fans.
Yes, the Williams sisters have millions of fans and you criticize my authority and expertise on tennis, yet somehow you arrived to my site and were intrigued enough to write a couple of comments.
DH,
As a black man, I find this article the furthest away from racist or bigoted. You must be an idiot to call the author that, sounds like you’re being the racist DH.
I agree with the author, she doesn’t belong on the top 5 of this list. Serena has been one of the more negative figures of the women’s tennis tour, she’s self-righteous, rude, and just bad for the sport…remember it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch.
DH, why do you feel the need to pull out the racial card if somebody doens’t include an African American? Are you pissed because Donal Young or James Blake aren’t in his “mens” pick? Oh and one more thing DH, you seriously need to take a few writing classes, your grammar are terrible.
I think the Williams sisters should be in your top 5 list. It is obvious you have personal bias against them. First of all, Clijsters has not been doing very well lately due to her injury, and a lot of these people have potential to win but don’t have the drive to win it as much as Serena Williams. You can say that Serena Williams has a poor attitude in tennis, but that is your opinion; she has put her heart out in every match and for someone like you to not count her in a top five list for the U.S. Open obviously doesn’t know a lot about tennis. Serena has won the past two tournaments and will not be surprised if she wins the U.S. Open!!
Erica,
I’ve been thinking about how to best respond to your comment and insult. Why should I include either of the Williams sisters in my picks for who could go to the finals of the US Open? I picked Clijsters because she is the defending champion – two years running. Not to mention that Kim came back from retirement, after having a child, played 1 tournament and won the next tournament which was a major. Obviously you have a personal bias against Kim Clijsters, right? And my opinions of the attitude of Serena Williams are shared by many others in the tennis industry and spectators alike.
I consider myself an expert in what I write, even if it’s not what people want to hear, I do my research and write what I feel. You Erica, have obviously been blinded by the popularity of one player and have have absolutely no regard for other players commitment to the sport “a lot of these people have potential to win but don’t have the drive to win it as much as Serena Williams.”. That is a perfect example of how little you know about tennis, just because a player does not show how bad they want it on the outside, doesn’t mean that they don’t want it.
Oh and I stand by my picks.
nonsense dude – your views are biases and bigotted. At least be honest. Did you see how much dignity Serena handled the terrible line calls in 2004 at the US Open. And you are foolish to ignore Serena’s obvious tennis skills and abilities, shot-making skills and tremendous servings. And there are millions of experts and fans who would disagree with you. You are no tennis expert. You have no objectivity. And there are many tennis players with worse attitudes than Serena on a consistent basis. My I say again, Serena blew it only once, and to characterize her entire career by one outburst is ludicrous unless you needed a reason to validate your distaste for her. I won’t be coming back to this site, so no need to respond. I’ll toast to you when Serena holds up the championship trophy (number 14!!!!!!)
DH,
I guess you forgot to read the entire article, remember this part “I do appreciate the powerful tennis game they each posses…”. You sir are clearly looking for reasons to bash on anybody who objects to what your views are.
Oh and dude, I’m glad you won’t be coming back to my site since you obviously have no objectivity to the sport.