Women to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday:
SERENA WILLIAMS
Seeded: 1
Age: 33
Country: United States
2015 Match Record: 48-2
2015 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 69
Major Titles: 21 — U.S. Open ('99, '02, '08, '12, '13, '14), Wimbledon ('02, '03, '09, '10, '12, '15), Australian Open ('03, '05, '07, '09, '10, '15), French Open ('02, '13, '15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-Won Championship '13-W, '12-W, '11-Lost in Final, '10-Did Not Play
Topspin: Bidding for tennis' first true Grand Slam — titles at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in the same season — since Steffi Graf did it in 1988. ... Already has a self-styled "Serena Slam" of four major championships in a row, dating to last year's U.S. Open. ... Can also tie Graf's professional-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. ... And as if that were all not enough, can be first woman with four consecutive U.S. Open trophies since Chris Evert in 1975-78.
MARIA SHARAPOVA
Age: 28
Country: Russia
2015 Match Record: 34-7
2015 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 35
Major Titles: 5 — U.S. Open ('06), Wimbledon ('04), French Open ('12, '14), Australian Open ('08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-4th, '13-DNP, '12-SF, '11-3rd, '10-4th
Topspin: Hasn't competed on tour since losing to Williams in the semifinals at Wimbledon to fall to 2-18 against the American. They could meet at the same stage in New York. ... Pulled out of two hard-court tournaments in August, citing a right leg muscle strain. ... Since winning the 2006 title, has been past the fourth round only once at Flushing Meadows. Still, considers herself a contender, saying: "I would have to expect that from myself, having been the champion there, and I always go into the tournament believing that."
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
Seeded: 4
2015 Match Record: 33-18 (playing in Connecticut Open)
2015 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 23
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at U.S. Open ('09, '14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-F, '13-3rd, '12-1st, '11-SF, '10-SF
Topspin: By far her most successful Grand Slam tournament, including two runner-up showings and two other semifinal appearances in the past six years. ... In past 10 majors overall, has lost in third round or earlier seven times.
PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 5
Age: 25
Country: Czech Republic
2015 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 16
Major Titles: 2 — Wimbledon ('11, '14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-3rd, '13-3rd, '12-4th, '11-1st, '10-3rd
Topspin: Only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn't reached the semifinals. ... Asked why she hasn't been successful in New York, Kvitova said: "It's kind of crowded. I like quiet and peace. ... I just never feel well over there. And the weather is kind of difficult for me, too. And the courts are not as fast as I wish, probably."
LUCIE SAFAROVA
Seeded: 6
Age: 28
Country: Czech Republic
2015 Match Record: 30-15 (playing in Connecticut Open)
2015 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 6
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, French Open ('15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-4th, '13-2nd, '12-3rd, '11-3rd, '10-1st
Topspin: Only once as far as the quarterfinals in her first 36 Grand Slam appearances, has now made the semifinals or better twice in the past five majors, including a loss to Williams in the French Open final in July. ... Has won two Grand Slam doubles titles this season with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
ANA IVANOVIC
Seeded: 7
Age: 27
Country: Serbia
2015 Match Record: 20-14
Career Singles Titles: 15
Major Titles: 1 — French Open ('08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-2nd, '13-4th, '12-QF, '11-4th, '10-4th
Topspin: A former No. 1 player, major champion and two-time Grand Slam runner-up. ... U.S. Open is only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn't made at least one semifinal appearance.
GARBINE MUGURUZA
Seeded: 9
Age: 21
Country: Spain
2015 Match Record: 27-15
2015 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 1
Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, Wimbledon ('15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-1st, '13-DNP, '12-1st, '11-DNP, '10-DNP
Topspin: Has yet to win a main-draw match at the U.S. Open in two appearances, but breakthrough run to final at Wimbledon showed she appears to have the game and the presence to succeed at Flushing Meadows.
VICTORIA AZARENKA
Seeded: 20
Age: 26
Country: Belarus
2015 Match Record: 26-11
2015 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 17
Major Titles: 2 — Australian Open ('12, '13)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '14-QF, '13-F, '12-F, '11-3rd, '10-2nd
Topspin: Lost a pair of three-set U.S. Open finals to Williams in 2012 and 2013. ... Has the power to trade strokes with Williams from the baseline but is 3-17 against the American.
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