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The draw for the US Open 2022 women’s event was published a couple of days back. However, we didn’t have all of the names when the draw was done. That’s because the qualifying draw was yet to be concluded. But now, the qualifying draw has been done, so we can take a closer look at all of the players involved. Of course, the seeded players were the first to be added. And since, the qualifiers, wildcards, and lucky losers have been added.
So now is the ideal time to take a look through the 2022 US Open women’s draw to see what lies ahead for the next two weeks. I for one am pretty excited to see the women’s tournament unfold, and I am sure you are too. On that note, let me now give you a breakdown of the draw with the inclusion of several important factors. Below, I’ve covered the top-seeded players, the more exciting first-round matches, and the possible clashes as we move further into the tournament.
It’s all detailed within, so let’s get started right away!
Breakdown of the US Open Women’s Draw 2022
Contents
As a reminder, the women’s singles draw is a 128-player knockout tournament. This means that there are 64 first-round matches scheduled for the opening few days. And as the tournament progresses, this number halves with each passing round. This is the case until we reach finals day, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 11th. So as you can see, there is plenty of tennis to get excited about for the next two weeks. And before it all begins, let’s check out a detailed breakdown of the 2022 US Open women’s draw.
The Top Seeds
Just like the men’s US Open event, the women’s draw consists of 32 seeds which are based on player rankings at the time of entry. Because of this, I can give you an accurate report of the top five seeds for the women’s draw. Here they are:
- 1st seed – Iga Swiatek
- 2nd seed – Anett Kontaveit
- 3rd seed – Maria Sakkari
- 4th seed – Paula Badosa
- 5th seed – Ons Jabeur
These seedings have been confirmed, and the numbers dictate the various positions for these players in the draw. Swiatek is at the very top of the draw as the number one seed. And Kontaveit is at the very bottom as the number two seed. Then for the 3rd and 4th seeds, Sakkari is in the bottom half, which sets up a possible semi-final with Kontaveit. And the 4th seed, Badosa, is in the top half, meaning she has a possible semi-final with Swiatek.
Jabeur comes in as the 5th seed, and she has been placed in the bottom half of the draw. Of course, the purpose of these numbers is to signify the player’s chances of winning the event. So for example, Swiatek is expected to win the tournament as the number one seed, whereas Kontaveit is expected to reach the finals. Obviously, it’s rare for tournaments to go exactly to plan with the seedings, but this is the fundamental purpose of the seeds here.
Best First Round Matches to Watch
Now that we’ve identified the seeds, we can start to look at the actual matches for the 2022 US Open. And based on what I’ve seen, there are a few matches that really stand out. These are the games where I expect the matches to be relatively tight, full of drama, and exciting for fans to witness. So let me give you a quick rundown of the best first-round games to watch, as per the 2022 US Open draw:
- S. Williams vs Kovinic
Given that Serena will retire after the US Open, I just had to list this match. I expect a packed crowd for Williams to take to the court against Kovinic. And with retirement on the line, I believe that Serena will bring her A-game. Should the match get close, the drama will be off the charts too.
- Raducanu vs Cornet
I’ve mentioned the previous match because of the imminent retirement of a legend of the game. But I’ve chosen this match for other reasons entirely. Emma Raducanu is the current US Open champion, so there is a ton on the line for her. And she has been given a very tough opener against Cornet – a veteran of the tour. Cornet has a reputation for taking down big players too, and she was the one that ended Swiatek’s streak at Wimbledon.
- Collins vs Osaka
I’ve struggled to find a more epic opening round than this one. Osaka is a previous champion, yet she enters the 2022 US Open unseeded due to her ranking. Because of this, she has been drawn against the 19th seed, Danielle Collins. Of course, with Osaka being a previous champion and Collins being a top contender, this one has the potential for fireworks.
Potential Blockbusters
The last thing I’d like to cover concerning the women’s US Open draw is the potential clashes as we head deeper into the draw. And I believe I’ve found some truly mouthwatering prospects. We could see a third-round clash involving Emma Raducanu and Osaka/Collins, which would be epic. There is also the possibility of Serena Williams vs the number 2 seed, Kontaveit, in the second round. Looking at other sections of the draw, there is a possible clash between Sakkari and Diane Parry – an immensely talented teenager from France.
Moving further through the draw, there is the potential for Coco Gauff to take on Madison Keys in the third round. This all-American clash would be epic to witness, especially given the different stages of their careers. And finally, I do believe that the possible second-round match between Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens would be a great watch too. That’s because Sloane Stephens is a previous US Open champion, and Swiatek is the favourite to win the event this year.
The schedule is already out for these matches too, which you can take a look at on the main US Open website.
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