My WTA US OPEN 2016 - Finals Pick, BRACKET FOUR

BRACKET FOUR

7 R. Vinci – Roberta plays the role of crafty veteran so well. She knows most players want to stand behind the baseline and hit away. I had Vinci losing to Christina McHale because Vinci has played a lot of tennis this past year. In recent outings, it seemed fatigue might have gotten to her. The amount of play has paid off because she has won enough to boost her points to keep her into the Top 10 in the rankings. This, in turn, has helped her avoid a seeded player this far into the tournament.

L. Tsurenko – Lesia beat (21) Irina-Camelia Begu and (12) Dominika Cibulková to get this far. Begu was flat in her match, which tells me to stop picking her to get this deep in tournaments, as I had her reaching the quarterfinals. Tsurenko’s match against Cibulková was a slugfest that could have gone either way. I’m curious to see if she has enough power to tire out Vinci.

14 P. Kvitova – Petra did it! Though she hasn’t looked dominant, while winning her three matches in two sets each, she has brought more fire from within. She even fist-pumped in her last match. By reaching the fourth round, she sent a signal she’s not inching toward retirement. If she beats Kerber, she can get to the Finals.

2 A. Kerber – It’s great watching a player for whom winning is everything. The look Angelique had on her face when she lost to Monica Puig at the Olympics in Rio; that look is why I’ve had to make room for her in that next crop of dominant players who might win multiple majors. To win the US Open, she has a tough road ahead. First, there’s the battle of two lefties with different games and styles, where I have Kerber outlasting Kvitova. Next, there’s Roberta Vinci on the horizon. If this takes place, it will be a must-watch as two masters of angles battle. Vinci’s quirkiness will trouble Kerber but only so much, as Kerber edges her out and in straight sets. For the semifinals and finals, she could be looking at Keys, Venus, Halep or Serena. Such a tough road forces me to make Kerber my fourth pick to win the tournament.