Ranking the Top 10 Women's Players Heading into 2015 US Open Tennis

The 2015 U.S. Open is all about Serena Williams and her pursuit of the calendar-year Grand Slam and matching Steffi Graf's Open-era record 22 Slams.

But other players have their own aspirations. Karolina Pliskova, winner of the 2015 U.S. Open Series, wants to win her first Slam. Teen sensation Belinda Bencic has her eyes on playing possible spoiler in a quarterfinals match against Williams. 

Bencic backed up her upset win over Williams in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup by clinching a second WTA title. She leapfrogs some well-known top 10 players to land on these power rankings.

Petra Kvitova, who had struggled most of the summer, defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals of the Connecticut Open to reach her first final since Madrid, in May. Could she be ready to finally make some noise at Flushing Meadows?

All but one of the ladies mentioned above earned a spot in the top 10 power rankings. 

This list ranks the top 10 players based on recent play, performance against top-tier talent and hard-court prowess. 

Merely holding down a WTA Tour top 10 ranking, like No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro, doesn't guarantee a spot on this list. In fact, Suarez Navarro, who has lost her last six matches, missed the cut. 

This list reflects a player's strength and projected performance at the U.S. Open. The following are the top 10 players heading into Flushing Meadows.

Honorable Mentions

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Karolina Pliskova during a match at the 2015 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnatti.

Karolina Pliskova, Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina earned honorable mentions. Pliskova, ranked No. 8, won the U.S. Open Series, but she doesn't make the top 10 because her points total reflects quantity (she played more tournaments) more than quality of play.  

Svitolina, who reached the semifinals at the Western & Southern Open, earned a mention for her improved play over the summer.

Azarenka, although ranked No. 20, is a superb hard-courts player, a two-time Australian Open winner and two-time U.S. Open finalist.

10. Garbine Muguruza

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Garbine Muguruza hits a backhand during the Western & Southern Open.

Garbine Muguruza, ranked No. 9, is 0-2 since reaching the Wimbledon finals. However, she's still one of the hardest hitters on tour. Well rested, Muguruza, 21, is the youngest woman in the top 10.

9. Ana Ivanovic

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Ana Ivanovic fires a forehand during a match at the 2015 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Ana Ivanovic is ranked No. 7, but according to her standing in the Road to Singapore, she's having the 17th best year on the tour. That's why she comes in lower than her WTA ranking. 

Ivanovic will always show up in big matches, as she did when taking a set off Serena Williams at the Western & Southern Open.

Ivanovic reached the semifinals at the French Open, but other than upsetting Williams last year at the Australian Open, her results in Grand Slams have been less than stellar. She's only advanced beyond the fourth round in a Slam three times since winning the French Open in 2008. In 10 appearances at the U.S. Open, Ivanovic has only made it past the round of 16 once.

8. Angelique Kerber

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Angelique Kerber hits a forehand during the 2015 Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Surprised to see No. 11-ranked Angelique Kerber at No. 8? Don't be. Kerber is having a fantastic year. She's won four titles (only Serena has more) and is ranked No. 6 in the Road to Singapore standings.

Kerber has wins over Maria Sharapova, Wozniacki, Muguruza and Pliskova, all top 10 players.

7. Caroline Wozniacki

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Caroline Wozniacki serves during a match at the 2015 Western & Southern Open.

Although ranked No. 4 in WTA rankings, Caroline Wozniacki lands at No. 7 because heading into the Connecticut Open, she had lost four matches in a row.

She had a dream run at the U.S. Open last year. She reached the finals for the second time. This year, Wozniacki is ranked No. 14 on the Road to Singapore. She reached the semifinals at the Connecticut Open, where she lost to Kvitova. Perhaps she can take positive vibes from New Haven into Flushing Meadows.

6. Petra Kvitova

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Petra Kvitova hits a backhand during a match at the Western * Southern Open.

Petra Kvitova, the hard-hitting lefty with the big serve and devastating forehand, has been unable to capitalize on her big weapons at the U.S. Open. She's never gone past the fourth round. Like Wozniacki, Kvitova was on a mini slump before New Haven. 

Seeded No. 5 at the U.S. Open, Kvitova has top-three level talent, but inconsistent play is why she's at No. 6.

5. Belinda Bencic

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Belinda Bencic hits a forehand during the 2015 Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Belinda Bencic is having a career-changing breakout year. She's won two titles and knocked off Serena Williams.

Ranked No. 12, Bencic, mentored by Martina Hingis, has been the brightest rising star on the tour this summer. This one is the real deal.

4. Lucie Safarova

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Lucie Safarova hits a backhand during the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

It's easy to overlook Lucie Safarova. The 2015 French Open finalist is quietly having her best year. She and partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands trail only Hingis and Sania Mirza in doubles standings. 

Safarova continues to fly under the radar, which also means she can play with little pressure. Although ranked No. 6, this lefty is at No. 4 here mostly because that's where she is on the Road to Singapore.

She just advanced to the finals of the Connecticut Open. Safarova has also reached the fourth round or better at five of the last six Grand Slams.

3. Maria Sharapova

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Maria Sharapova during a press conference in which she announced her withdrawal from the Western & Southern Open.

It's hard to know what kind of game Sharapova is bringing to Flushing Meadows. The last time she played a match was at Wimbledon, on grass. With no hard-courts preparation, Sharapova may be ripe for an early round upset. 

Still, she's one of the game's best, regardless of rest or rust. Besides, she won the French Open last year, made it to the finals at the Australian Open and the semis at Wimbledon. Only Serena Williams has a better showing over the past six Slams.

2. Simona Halep

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Simona Halep prepares to hit a backhand during a match against Serena Williams in the finals of the 2015 Western & Southern Open.

Simona Halep moved ahead of Maria Sharapova to reclaim the No. 2 ranking.

Halep, after a dismal performance at Wimbledon, reached the finals at the Rogers Cup and the Western & Southern Open. Although she lost both matches, she showed that, under the guidance of coach Darren Cahill, she's back in the form that got her to No. 2 the first time.

1. Serena Williams

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Serena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the Western & Southern Open.

No drum roll necessary. Of course Williams is No. 1.

The Slams, the trophies and the pursuit of history, all loom large over Williams' bid to win her fourth consecutive and record-breaking seventh U.S. Open title. 

That's a ton of pressure, even for one of the best big-moment athletes in the history of sports. Still, nobody has handled pressure and front-runner status like Williams.

She had some issues with her serve over the summer but appeared to have corrected them in the finals at the Western & Southern Open. 

She's the undisputed No. 1 player in the power rankings, the WTA rankings and the Road to Singapore. A win at the U.S. Open could solidify her case for greatest of all time.