2019 US Open Expert Picks: The Women—Andreescu, Keys trendy selections - Tennis Magazine

View the entire women's bracket at our US Open tournament page.

Champion

MATT FITZGERALD: Serena Williams
She won the decade’s first Slam in Melbourne. A New York bookend for Serena, after three major final disappointments, is a fitting storyline in her journey to elusive number 24.

STEVE FLINK: Ashleigh Barty
She hasn’t been at her best since winning Roland Garros, but I have a feeling Barty will come through to win her second major. The danger for the No. 2 seed might be a round of 16 meeting with Kerber.

CALE HAMMOND: Bianca Andreescu
Andreescu hasn't been beaten on the court since March. She won Indian Wells, retired in Miami, retired in Paris, then won Toronto. Bibi is a beast, and no one has played better on hard courts this year.

ED MCGROGAN: Simona Halep
The Wimbledon champion is at the peak of her powers and has a draw she can ease into. Whomever she faces in the quarters—Kvitova, Stephens, Andreescu—will be a trendy pick in this half, but don't overthink it. And should she face Serena in the final? Well, you watched Wimbledon, right?

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Bianca Andreescu
By winning Indian Wells and the Rogers Cup, she’s shown she can perform on the big stage. If healthy, no one can stop the 20-year-old Canadian on hard courts.

NINA PANTIC: Madison Keys
Her win in Cincinnati put her back in the Top 10, and the 2017 finalist is as comfortable in Flushing as anyone.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Serena Williams
Although she retired from back spasms in the Toronto final, her game is coming together—and after last year’s controversial final, she will be hungry to capture her 24^th Grand Slam in New York.

STEVE TIGNOR: Madison Keys
She flipped a switch in Cincy; it she can keep it flipped, she might take herself off the “best players never to win a major” list, at last.

JOEL DRUCKER: Serena Williams
This at last becomes her return-to-glory breakthrough. Why not at the Slam where it all started for her 20 years ago?

Dark Horse (Seeded No. 20 or lower)

MATT FITZGERALD: Maria Sakkari
The Greek has played quality hard-court tennis this summer, earning three Top 10 wins. A chance for Cincinnati redemption against Barty could play out in the third round.

STEVE FLINK: Sofia Kenin
The 20-year-old isn't seeded No. 20 by accident. She could topple No. 10 seed Keys in the third round and go deep into the draw.

CALE HAMMOND: Dayana Yastremska
It’s just a matter of time for the 19-year-old Ukrainian, who has won three singles titles in the past year.

ED MCGROGAN: Sofia Kenin
Not going out on a limb here, but the No. 20 seed would be Top 10 based on current form. The No. 3 and No. 5 seeds are in her quarter, but they're Pliskova and Svitolina—hardly guarantees. Look for a routine win over the returning Vandeweghe to start, followed by more victories.

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Svetlana Kuznetsova
The Russian veteran won here in 2004, and her Cincy wins over Barty, Pliskova and Stephens give her plenty of good vibes.

NINA PANTIC: Svetlana Kuznetsova
As her out-of-nowhere finalist run in Cincinnati proves, you can never count a motivated former champion out.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Su-Wei Hsieh
The Taipei native has a crafty game and has recorded wins over Sabalenka, Osaka and Wozniacki this year. Anything is possible with her.

STEVE TIGNOR: Anett Kontaveit
The 21st seed has played good tennis this summer, is due to go deeper at a major, and has a draw that might let her do it.

JOEL DRUCKER: Dayana Yastremska
Plenty of game and a reasonable draw.

Bust (Seeded No. 10 or higher)

MATT FITZGERALD: Aryna Sabalenka
Azarenka, Putintseva and Vekic as a potential path to week two? That’s a tall order for one of the WTA’s streakiest players, and one who has flamed out at the majors this season.

STEVE FLINK: Naomi Osaka
The top seed and defending champion is fighting a knee injury, and despite her ranking, her self esteem isn't where it needs to be.

CALE HAMMOND: Sloane Stephens
Not even Kamau Murray can salvage Stephens’ dismal summer of tennis. Something’s not right with the 2017 champion.

ED MCGROGAN: Elina Svitolina
She could face Venus in the second round, yes, but the No. 5 seed first has to get by another hard-hitting American, Whitney Osuigwe. Oh, and Kenin in nearby, who Svitolina lost to in Toronto and Cincinnati.

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Aryna Sabalenka
Her high-risk, high-return game is suited to these hard courts, but she hasn't found her form this season. Also, she faces two-time Grand Slam champion Azarenka in the opener.

NINA PANTIC: Aryna Sabalenka
She was a USTA Breakout Performance winner last year, but her summer hasn’t gone according to plan and she opens against her experienced compatriot Azarenka.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Elina Svitolina
The Ukranian hasn't had have the most stellar hard-court season thus far, and her draw is filled with early-round obstacles.

STEVE TIGNOR: Sloane Stephens
Sloane’s had a slow summer, she just split with her coach, and she could face Kuznetsova in the second round. Kuznetsova beat her easily last week.

JOEL DRUCKER: Kiki Bertens
She's a meager 2-6 at the US Open, and her only summer hard-court win came against a player ranked No. 152.

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