It’s happening again: Women’s seeds dropping like flies at US Open
On Saturday, No. 5 seed Petra Kvitova, No. 4 Angelique Kerber, No. 6 Caroline Garcia and No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko all fell. No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki went out in the second round, and the top seed was out on day one. Just like at Wimbledon, it’s happening. AGAIN.
What is going on in the women’s draw? At Wimbledon, we had the worst showing of women’s seeds in the history of the grand slam era. And it looks like the U.S. Open is starting to follow suit.
Before we’ve reached the fourth round, we’ve seen 10 of the top 13 seeds go out, with the shocking top two gone by the second round.
First there was Halep
Simona Halep, after producing an excellent season that culminated in her first grand slam victory to go along with her No. 1 ranking at the French Open, also went out in the third round at Wimbledon, but rallied to win the Canadian Masters event and made the final in Cincinnati. She seemed poised to make a go at a second grand slam this year, but on the first match on the new Louis Armstrong court, she went out in straight sets to Kaia Kanepi, ranked No. 44, but once a top 15 player, 6-2. 6-4.
“I never play my best tennis” [in New York], said Halep according to The New York Times. “Yeah, nerves,” she admitted in the same press conference, “Because I’m born like this, I think.”
Nerves for the top player? The admission is pretty disappointing at this early stage of a slam.
Then Caroline Wozniacki followed behind Halep
Another first-time slam winner who achieved the No. 1 ranking, just like Halep, at the beginning of the year, Caroline Wozniacki lost to Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets as well, 6-4 6-2.
Besides her maiden slam in Australia, 2018 has shaped up to be disappointing for the second seed. The U.S. Open is the second grand slam she’s gone out by round two this year. Combine that with her fourth-round loss at Roland Garros, the Danish player hasn’t made it to week two of a slam since Australia.
“This part of the season is usually a part of the season I really look forward to, one I really play well. I definitely would have wished to have played more and gone further. All I can do now is regroup, think what I can do, and also just make sure my body is 100 per cent, ” said Wozniacki according to Sky Sports.
Numbers four, five, six and 10 all go out in the same day
Saturday was brutal for seeds on the women’s side. First the reigning Wimbledon champ and No. 4 seed Angelique Kerber was defeated by Dominika Cibulková after winning the first set, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
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Petra Kvitova was taken out by rising sensation Aryna Sabalenka, 7-5. 6-1. Kvitova has put in a phenomenal year, having won the most WTA singles titles in 2018, but has yet to convert the success on the grand slam level. She was also a sentimental favorite of course since coming back from a knife attack in her home that left her hitting hand almost beyond repair.
No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia came up against an inspired Carla Suárez Navarro, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4).
The underdog of the tournament, Maria Sharapova, sent the 10th seed, Jelena Ostapenko, packing, continuing her dominant night match record of 23 straight wins, 6-3, 6-2.
“I thrive on playing under the lights for some reason. I love that. I love that challenge,” said the Russian, according to Sky Sports, seeded 22.
The 12th and 13th seeds are also gone
Just like at Wimbledon, where 12th seed Garbiñe Muguruza was unable to defend her title this year, she went out early, losing in the second round here to 202nd-ranked Karolina Muchova, shockingly, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Another lower ranked player, No. 103 Marketa Vondrousova, sent home the Cincinnati Masters winner (and 13th seed) Kiki Bertens — who by all rights should have been one of the major contenders for the title in Flushing Meadows — 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(1).
Seven of the top 10 seeds were out by the first week of Wimbledon. The bleeding is happening at the last grand slam again, in New York. Some call it the depth of the women’s game, still others are critical of the lack of staying power of the Top 20 in women’s tennis.
So who’s left going into Week Two?
Sharapova is turning into the underdog of the tournament and winning under the radar.
Serena Williams has sailed through her matches and is looking closer to collecting her record 24th grand slam.
Last year’s finalist, 14th seed Madison Keys, lost the first set of her match but dug deep to turn things around and beat Aleksandra Krunić, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, in the third round.
”The biggest confidence boost for me has been being able to get myself back into those matches and knowing that in a situation like today, if I make some adjustments and stay calm, then I can usually figure things out,” Keys said in a press conference, according to Sports Illustrated.
Her opponent in last year’s final Sloane Stephens, the third seed, has played confident, skillful tennis all week long, culminating in a huge win over former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, and looks poised to defend her title at Flushing Meadows.
Fourth round matches continue on Monday, Labor Day, with Federer back in action.
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