US Open 2016: Top 5 favorites to win the Women's Singles title

The 136^th edition of the US Open is only five days away now and all eyes will be on the final Grand Slam of the year. This year’s US Open is bound to be exciting as many of the top ranked players will be back in action after missing out on the Olympics owing to injury or Zika virus fears.Given the amount of upsets that were caused during the Wimbledon Championships, Rio Olympics and the Cincinnati Masters, we can hardly say that Serena Williams will be the only favorite to lift the winners’ trophy on the 10^th of September as there are a couple of players who are bound to give them a tough fight. With five days to go before the Arthur Ashe stadium gets jam-packed, let’s take a quick look at some of the favorites in the women’s singles tournament.

#5. Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza became a household name ever since reaching the Wimbledon final last year. This year she bettered that performance and won the French Open by beating Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 and rose up to World No.2 in the WTA rankings.

However, after her French Open triumph, Muguruza’s performances took a hit as she lost in the second round of the Wimbledon to Slovak qualifier Jana Cepelova and later crashed out of the Rio Olympics in the third round after being beaten by eventual gold medalist Monica Puig 6-1, 6-1.After the Olympics, the World No.3 bounced back to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters before losing to Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. Muguruza’s performances at the US Open haven’t been very good with a second round performance last year being her best showing. However, Muguruza is bound to come back strong and will be looking to carry her form in the Cincinnati Masters in the US Open and provided she does so, she could well be a player to watch out for.

#4. Agnieszka Radwanska

The Polish ace will be one of the players to look out for at the US Open

The World No.4 has been in decent form lately and will be looking to put up a good performance at the US Open. A visibly worn out Radwanska arrived late at the Rio Olympics after a strenuous 55-hour journey from Montreal to Rio and bowed out after an opening round defeat to China’s Zheng Saisai. Following the Olympics, Aga made it to the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters where she lost to eventual semi-finalist Simona Halep.Radwanska’s performances at the US Open has not been very good with four fourth round appearances in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2013 being her best showing at the tournament. However, this year could be different for her as she has been in good form lately and provided she remains fit and continues her good form, Radwanska could well be an opponent to be wary of.

#3. Simona Halep

Simona Halep will be one of the favorites heading into the US Open

The Romanian has been in good form in the past couple of months. After a disappointing showing at both the Australian Open and the French Open, Halep reached the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon where she lost to eventual runner-up Angelique Kerber. Shortly later, she avenged her defeat by beating Kerber 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup. She eventually won the tournament by beating Madison Keys in the final. She pulled out of the Rio Olympics owing to Zika virus fears.The World No.5 will be considered one of the title contenders of the US Open and would be looking to better her semi-final performance last year. Halep’s offensive game has always been her strength and she will be relying on this strength of hers to put up a strong performance at the US Open. Provided she maintains her good form, then she could well give the likes of Williams and Kerber a run for their money.

#2. Angelique Kerber

Kerber will be hoping to dethrone Serena Williams at the top of the WTA rankings by winning the US Open

Touted by many to overtake Serena Williams as World No.1, the US Open will be Kerber’s best opportunity to attain the World No.1 ranking after failing to grab the opportunity at the Cincinnati masters where she lost to Karolina Pliskova in the final whereas a win would have helped her dethrone Serena Williams from the top spot.The World No.2 will be a heavy favorite to win this year’s US Open as she has been in scintillating form so far, winning the Australian and reaching the final of the Wimbledon and the Rio Olympics. Kerber’s counter-attacking all-court makes her a very dangerous opponent and if she can continue her good run of form in the US Open, then there’s a very good chance she may win her second Grand Slam final and we might have a new Women’s World No.1.

#1. Serena Williams

The World No.1 will be hoping to win her seventh US Open title

Serena Williams is keeping on proving that age is just a number as at 34, she has been the World No.1 since the past three years. After losing the final of both the Australian Open and the French Open, Serena won the Wimbledon title by beating her Australian Open conqueror Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the final. However, she lost in the third round of the Rio Olympics, losing to 15^th seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.However, the Rio loss is a mere setback from which Williams is bound to come back stronger. She will be a heavy favorite to win the US Open given and will be looking to win her seventh US Open title and her 23^rd Grand Slam title which will take her tally to 23 and one closer to Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams.