HOW THE LEADING WOMEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2015 US OPEN
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 33
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US72,798,424 ($A99.82 million)
Career titles: 68
Grand slam titles: 21 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2105; French Open 2002, 2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2002-03, 2009-10, 2012, 2015; US Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-2014)
US Open win-loss record: 79-9
Best US Open results: champion 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-2014
The all-conquering world No.1 has more history at her mercy as the odds-on favourite to complete a career-first calendar-year grand slam and match Steffi Graf’s open-era benchmark of 22 major singles titles.
SIMONA HALEP (ROM)
Age: 23
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US9,090,583 ($A12.46 million)
Career titles: 11
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 7-4
Best US Open result: 4th round 2013
The Romanian has emerged as Williams’ biggest threat after regaining her world No.2 ranking with a three-title season and charge to the Cincinnati Masters final in a strong build-up.
MARIA SHARAPOVA (RUS)
Age: 28
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US35,821,151 ($A49.12 million)
Career titles: 35
Grand slam titles: 5 (Australian Open 2008; French Open 2012, 2014; Wimbledon 2004; US Open 2006)
US Open win-loss record: 32-9
Best US Open result: champion 2008
The Russian will likely need to snap an 11-year losing streak against Williams to claim a second title but she boasts a career grand slam and is clearly one of the top prospects.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN)
Age: 25
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,181,141 ($A27.67 million)
Career titles: 23
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 28-8
Best US Open results: finalist 2009, 2014
Arguably the best women’s player without a major, the Dane has come closest in New York with two runner-up showings plus two more semi-final appearances. A big chance to break through in 2015 if Williams comes unstuck.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)
Age: 25
Ranking: 5
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,660,174 ($A25.59 million)
Career titles: 17
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
US Open win-loss record: 12-7
Best US Open results: 4th rd 2009, 2012
Has never caught fire in the Big Apple but Flushing Meadows’ fast-paced courts are tailored to suit the free-swinging Czech and it seems only a matter of time before she makes a title push.
VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR)
Age: 26
Ranking: 20
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US25,176,712 ($A34.52 million)
Career titles: 17
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2012, 2013)
US Open win-loss record: 28-9
Best US Open results: finalist 2012, 2013
Only Williams denied the dual Australian Open champion the crown in successive years and the Belarusian once again looms as a danger after making the quarter-finals in 2014 after a long injury-enforced layoff.
BEST OUTSIDER
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)
Age: 23
Ranking: 8
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,371,452 ($A3.25 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 2-2
Best US Open result: 3rd 2014
The Czech cracked the top 10 for the first time this year after reaching five finals including the season-opening Sydney International and a top-eight seeding only improves her chances of going deep in the draw.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPE
SAMANTHA STOSUR
Age: 31
Ranking: 21
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US14,761,722 ($A20.24 million)
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2011)
US Open win-loss record: 18-10
Best US Open result: champion 2011
The former champion has only won one match in the past two years at Flushing Meadows but returns injury-free and with two titles under her belt already in 2015. Can again cause some damage if she gets on a roll.
