US Open Preview: Ranking All the Favorites on the Women's Side

With the U.S Open series in full swing, it’s still difficult to establish any form of a pecking order in women’s tennis.

With so many changes in rankings and the recent wins and losses in the Top 100 of the WTA, it’s hard to make a prediction about the upcoming U.S Open in Flushing Meadows.

It’s already been a crazy year, with Kim Clijsters winning down under, Na Li winning on the red clay of Paris and a new entrant in the form of Petra Kvitova dominating on the grass at Wimbledon.

While I still wouldn’t call it a crap shoot, the women’s field is as open as it’s ever been.

1. Serena Williams

Was this really a surprise? The 13 Grand Slam winner sounded an ominous warning to her rivals that she will be a genuine contender at the U.S. Open after winning the Stanford Classic and the Roger’s Cup.

The victories mean Williams, who returned to the tour in June after almost a year off due to injury and illness, has jumped 138 places in the new world rankings to 31.

As she has proved time and again, no matter what her form, Williams is always a contender for Grand Slams. With over a dozen under her belt, she knows how it's done. Her form is likely to improve with every match. She could very well be lifting Grand Slam No. 14 come September.

2. Maria Sharapova

The 2006 US Open Champion is already looking like her old self. After a terrible 2009-2010 tennis season due to the shoulder surgery she had at the end of 2008, she’s come back and kicking some major tennis butt.

Sharapova is already nestled back in the Top 10 and has a runner-up finish at 2011 Wimbledon and an improved attitude. If she’s able to serve well and keep the double faults in control, a Sharapova win could be in the offing.

3. Andrea Petkovic

The entertaining German powerhouse could certainly be a serious contender this year at the Open. Andrea Petkovic has come into her own this year, reaching the quarterfinals of Australia, Roland Garros, being a runner-up at Brisbane and semifinalist at Carlsbad and breaking through to the Top 10 on the WTA rankings.

I would love to see her reach the finals and win the US Open. She’s a powerful and smart player with wins over big opponents like Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova. She’s got what it takes to be a contender. Also, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to her post-win “Petko Dance" or "Petko Moon-Walk.”

4. Kim Clijsters

Why wouldn’t I put the defending champion on this list? Last year, she stomped on Vera Zvonareva in the final, 6-2, 6-1, which was hardly a tennis match.

This year, Kim Clijsters could face more powerful competition. I don’t really see her dominating like the previous two years, but she could very well get an easy draw and cruise into the finals.

Clijsters "cruising" into the finals is all contingent on her health. The last couple of months, she has had ankle injuries that have pulled her out of Wimbledon, Carlsbad and the Rogers Cup. We’ll see if she is up to defending her 2010 U.S. Open title.

5. Petra Kvitova

She might be a new entrant into the tennis elite, and she’s proved her well-balanced tennis game—one that could very well cause fits for every player in her draw.

But the true challenge for the newly crowed 2011 Wimbledon Champion will not only be to get used to the change in surface, but also to get used to her new status as Grand Slam champion.  At 21, Kvitova is just emerging, but If she plays like she did at the All England Club, she’s likely to do exceptionally well at the Open.

6. Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva was the runner-up of the 2010 US Open and 2010 Wimbledon and was the semifinalist at the 2011 Australian Open. Could this be the year she gets her head on straight and avoids the meltdowns she’s had in prior years to actually win a major? I have my doubts.

She’s got the gift; her strokes are spot-on and powerful enough to take it to every player that gets in her way. But for Zvonereva, the real question is if she can get out of her own way when she gets deep into the second week.