Women to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday:
SERENA WILLIAMS
Seeded: 1
Age: 34
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 33-5
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 71
Major Titles: 22 — U.S. Open ('99, '02, '08, '12, '13, '14), Wimbledon ('02, '03, '09, '10, '12, '15, '16), Australian Open ('03, '05, '07, '09, '10, '15), French Open ('02, '13, '15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-Lost in Semifinals, '14-Won Championship, '13-W, '12-W, '11-Lost in Final
Topspin: A year ago, came within two victories of first calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf's in 1988, but lost to Roberta Vinci in U.S. Open semifinals. ... Part of Williams' year's wait for her 22nd major singles title, which she got at Wimbledon last month, equaling Graf's Open-era record. Now seeks No. 23 at Flushing Meadows. ... Can become first woman with seven U.S. Open titles in professional era. ... Will tie Graf's record of 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in WTA rankings, but could drop from top spot after U.S. Open.
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ANGELIQUE KERBER
Seeded: 2
Age: 28
Country: Germany
2016 Match Record: 47-14
2016 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 9
Major Titles: 1 — Australian Open ('16)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-3rd, '14-3rd, '13-4th, '12-4th, '11-SF
Topspin: Could have overtaken Serena Williams at No. 1 in the rankings by winning title on hard courts in Cincinnati this month, but lost in the final. Has another chance to move up to No. 1 for first time, depending on U.S. Open results. ... Very first Grand Slam semifinal appearance came at Flushing Meadows five years ago. ... Beat Williams in Australian Open final in January, then lost to her in Wimbledon final in July. ... Won silver medal at Rio Olympics.
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GARBINE MUGURUZA
Seeded: 3
Age: 22
Country: Spain
2016 Match Record: 28-13
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: 1 — French Open ('16)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-2nd, '14-1st, '13-Did Not Play, '12-1st, '11-DNP
Topspin: Won first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, beating Serena Williams in the final. ... One of three players who could take over from Williams at No. 1 after the U.S. Open. ... Has a 1-3 career record in New York, but her flat strokes and fearless style should work on the Flushing Meadows hard courts.
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VENUS WILLIAMS
Seeded: 6
Age: 36
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 21-11
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 49
Major Titles: 7 — U.S. Open ('00, '01), Wimbledon ('00, '01, '05, '07, '08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-QF, '14-3rd, '13-2nd, '12-2nd, '11-2nd
Topspin: Bowed out of Rio Olympics in first round of singles and doubles, but stuck around for mixed doubles and wound up earning a silver medal with Rajeev Ram. ... Experienced something of a renaissance at Wimbledon, making it to the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2010 U.S. Open. ... Last year at Flushing Meadows, made it to the quarterfinals before losing to her younger sister Serena.
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MADISON KEYS
Seeded: 8
Age: 21
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 34-11
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 2
Major Titles: 0 — Best: SF, Australian Open ('15)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-4th, '14-2nd, '13-1st, '12-DNP, '11-2nd
Topspin: Coming off a semifinal run at the Rio Olympics and now settled into the top 10. ... Her power-based game, built around a big serve and forehand, would seem to be better suited to the U.S. Open's hard courts than her results have shown. ... Pulled out of the Connecticut Open tuneup tournament the week before Flushing Meadows with a bad neck.
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PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 14
Age: 26
Country: Czech Republic
2016 Match Record: 25-17 (playing in Connecticut Open)
2016 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 17
Major Titles: 2 — Wimbledon ('11, '14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: '15-QF, '14-3rd, '13-3rd, '12-4th, '11-1st
Topspin: The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn't reached the semifinals. ... Won a bronze medal in singles at the Rio Olympics, looking quite comfortable on a slow hard court.
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