Women to watch at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday:
SERENA WILLIAMS
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 32
Country: United States
2014 Match Record: 38-6
2014 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 62
Major Titles: 17 - U.S. Open ('99, `02, `08, `12, `13), Wimbledon ('02, `03, `09, `10, `12), Australian Open ('03, `05, `07, `09, `10), French Open ('02, `13)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-Won Championship, `12-Won Championship, `11-Lost in Final, `10-Did Not Play, `09-SF
Topspin: At majors in 2014, lost in fourth round at Australian Open, second round at French Open, third round at Wimbledon. ... Two-time defending champion at U.S. Open; trying to win three consecutive titles at one of tennis' major tournaments for first time. ... Last woman with a ''three-peat'' in New York was Chris Evert, who won four trophies in a row from 1975-78.
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SIMONA HALEP
Seeded: 2
Ranked: 2
Age: 23
Country: Romania
2014 Match Record: 38-11
2014 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 8
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, French Open ('14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-4th, `12-2nd, `11-2nd, `10-1st
Topspin: Made only one third-round run in her first 13 career Grand Slam appearances, but starting with last year's U.S. Open, hasn't lost before the fourth round in her last four majors. ... Not much power to her game; relies instead on angles and court coverage.
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PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 4
Age: 24
Country: Czech Republic
2014 Match Record: 28-12 (Playing in Connecticut Open)
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 12
Major Titles: 2 - Wimbledon ('11, `14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-3rd, `12-4th, `11-1st, `10-3rd, `09-4th
Topspin: Trying to become the first woman other than the Williams sisters to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same year since Martina Hingis in 1997. ... Tough draw includes first-round match against up-and-comer Kristina Mladenovic, possible third-rounder against big-hitting American Madison Key, and possible fourth-rounder against past major champions Victoria Azarenka or Svetlana Kuznetsova.
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MARIA SHARAPOVA
Seeded: 5
Ranked: 6
Age: 27
Country: Russia
2014 Match Record: 38-9
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 32
Major Titles: 5 - U.S. Open ('06), Wimbledon ('04), French Open ('12, `14), Australian Open ('08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-DNP, `12-SF, `11-3rd, `10-4th, `09-3rd
Topspin: Missed last year's tournament with an injury to her right shoulder, which has given her trouble off and on over the past several seasons. ... Winning 46.2 percent of her return games this season, fifth-best on tour.
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EUGENIE BOUCHARD
Seeded: 7
Ranked: 8
Age: 20
Country: Canada
2014 Match Record: 37-17
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 1
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, Wimbledon ('14)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-2nd, `12-DNP, `11-DNP, `10-DNP, `09-DNP
Topspin: Only woman to reach at least the semifinals at all three Grand Slam tournaments in 2014, including first major final at Wimbledon last month. ... Only 1-3 on hard courts in run-up to U.S. Open. ... Does not rank in top 10 of WTA this season in any of 10 significant serve or return statistical categories.
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ANA IVANOVIC
Seeded: 8
Ranked: 9
Age: 26
Country: Serbia
2014 Match Record: 47-13
2014 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 14
Major Titles: 1 - French Open ('08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-4th, `12-QF, `11-4th, `10-4th, `09-1st
Topspin: Leads WTA in match wins this season. ... U.S. Open is only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn't made at least one semifinal appearance. ... Two of her three losses at hard-court tuneups came against the No. 1-ranked Williams.
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VENUS WILLIAMS
Seeded: 19
Ranked: 20
Age: 34
Country: United States
2014 Match Record: 24-11
2014 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 45
Major Titles: 7 - U.S. Open ('00, `01), Wimbledon ('00, `01, `05, `07, `08)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-2nd, `12-2nd, `11-2nd, `10-SF, `09-4th
Topspin: Making her 64th career Grand Slam appearance, most among active players and tied for third in the Open era, behind Amy Frazier's 71. ... Run to final in Montreal in August - which included victory over younger sister Serena - showed that she can still summon hard-court success.
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SLOANE STEPHENS
Seeded: 21
Ranked: 22
Age: 21
Country: United States
2014 Match Record: 20-18
2014 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 0
Major Titles: 0 - Best: SF, at Australian Open ('13)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: `13-4th, `12-3rd, `11-3rd, `10-DNP, `09-DNP
Topspin: Considered ''next big thing'' in U.S. tennis, has taken a step back this season, including first-round loss at Wimbledon that ended streak of six second-week appearances at majors. ... Tends to enjoy big stages, and game works well on hard courts, so could make a move at Flushing Meadows, if able to get past potential third-rounder against 2008 runner-up Jelena Jankovic.
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