US Open unseeded & dangerous: The women

The seeds for the 2016 US Open are set, but outside the Top 32 are eight players that nobody in the women’s draw will want to face. These are the unseeded and dangerous players to watch out for in Flushing Meadows.

Monica Puig

Current ranking: 34
Who is she? The Olympic champion and belle of Puerto Rico.
Why is she so dangerous? As she showed at the Olympics, Puig is a fearless competitor who can go toe to toe with the biggest hitters on the WTA. She also has a game suited to the conditions at Flushing Meadows.
Why isn’t she seeded? Timing, that’s all. 2016 is a breakout year for Monica Puig, and this could well be the last time she is not seeded at a Slam for a very long time.
How far can she go? It’s probably going to go one of two ways: either she’ll be on a massive post-Olympic comedown and bomb out in the early rounds, or she’ll keep riding the Rio wave deep into the second week of the tournament.

Lucie Safarova

Current ranking: 35
Who is she? A former world No.5 and Grand Slam runner-up.
Why is she so dangerous? Just look at her record. Yes, she’s having a bad 2016, but she’s got a history of success at tournaments of all levels.
Why isn’t she seeded? Safarova had a stellar 2015, meaning she had a lot of points to defend this time around. She’s struggled with form in 2016 (so far), and so the ranking has plummeted.
How far can she go? She has the talent to go deep, but on current form may well be out by the third round.

Ekaterina Makarova

Current ranking: 36
Who is she? The most underrated Russian on Tour.
Why is she so dangerous? Makarova is a consistent performer. She reached a career high of No.8, and loves the hard courts in particular. A former US Open semifinalist, she has the weapons to challenge any player in the draw.
Why isn’t she seeded? Hard to say. She’s still playing well (she won a Gold in doubles at the Olympics), but she’s struggled to defend her singles points from previous years.
How far can she go? Depending on the draw, the fourth round should be Makarova’s minimum expectation and the quarterfinals is a realistic target.

Kristina Mladenovic

Current ranking: 37
Who is she? A solid singles player and doubles expert.
Why is she so dangerous? She’s got game. Mladenovic combines heavy ground strokes with solid net play meaning she’s great all-round the court. What’s more, she’s not one to be overawed by either other players or the occasion.
Why isn’t she seeded? Despite a run to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows in 2015, her singles career is yet to catch fire. She’s solid a third / fourth round player, as her ranking suggests.
How far can she go? She’s definitely dangerous, and should be targeting third round minimum.

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Genie Bouchard

Current ranking: 40
Who is she? The former future saviour of women’s tennis.
Why is she so dangerous? In her breakout year (2014), Genie Bouchard bossed the tennis court – and her opponents. With big shots and impressive speed around the court, when Bouchard is firing she’s a handful for anyone.
Why isn’t she seeded? A shocking run of form in 2015, coupled with a slippery floor at Flushing Meadows, saw her ranking plummet to 61. The ship is, however, starting to steady.
How far can she go? If she can avoid the slippery floors, she has the talent to go deep. However, the third round is a realistic target.

Jelena Jankovic

Current ranking: 41
Who is she? The sassy former world No.1.
Why is she so dangerous? You don’t get to the top of the game without some serious ability. When she decides to show up, the Serb proves time and time again that she still has that talent in bucketloads.
Why isn’t she seeded? Perhaps she’s on the wane, perhaps she’s not as bothered as she used to be. It’s been a bumpy 12 months for the former No.1, hence the lower ranking.
How far can she go? Jankovic would argue she can get to the pointy end of the tournament. The rest of us would argue that the third round would be a good effort.

Alize Cornet

Current ranking: 47
Who is she? An emotional French pocket rocket.
Why is she so dangerous? Because when she holds it together she has the game to frustrate – and ultimately defeat – anyone. That includes Serena three times in a single season (2014).
Why isn’t she seeded? Alize Cornet is famously up and down. The last 18 months have had more downs than ups for the Frenchwoman, hence the fall in rankings.
How far can she go? If the draw works out and she can stay focused, there’s no reason that Cornet can’t make the fourth round.

Caroline Wozniacki

Current ranking: 51
Who is she? A two-time US Open finalist & former world No.1.
Why is she so dangerous? A bit like Jankovic, she has game. Admittedly, most of the top players have figured that game out, but occasionally she manages to stun them.
Why isn’t she seeded? Being honest: she’s struggling at the moment. For whatever reason, Wozniacki has had a massive slump in form (and there are few positive signs to suggest that she’ll turn that around).
How far can she go? She’s been to the final twice so she knows what it takes. However, on current form she’ll be going well to make it to the second round.