US Open Series Preview

The US Open Series is a series of five premier events for both genders. The WTA US Open series begins next week with Stanford and ends with New Haven. The two biggest events of the US Open Series are at Cincinnati and Toronto. Although the US Open Series is a great way to warm up for the US Open in late August, there is another bonus to doing well here- the top three finishers in the US Open series will win an extra million dollars in prize money if they win the US Open.
As I will be previewing every US Open Series tournament in the near future, I'll just give you a cursory glance at what the US Open Series has in store for you all.

The first tournament is at Stanford. It's a normal premier event. It has four top ten players competing- Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli and Samantha Stosur. Other stars competing there include former number one Ana Ivanovic as well as Serena Williams. Last year, Azarenka won the title defeating the other three top seeds in succession. With her current play, she has the ability to defend her win here.

The next tournament will be at San Diego. The field here isn't as strong as the Stanford field; there will only be one top ten player competing here- Vera Zvonareva. Last year, Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Agniezska Radwanska in the finals, and both of those players will be competing here again. Other notable players competing here include Andrea Petkovic and Peng Shuai.

The first of two Premier 5 tournaments at the US Open Series follows with the Rogers Cup in Toronto. A Premier 5 event gives more points than a Premier event, but doesn't give as many points as a Premier Mandatory event. The name Premier 5 comes as a result of there being 5 of these tournaments every year. The Rogers Cup has nearly every player in the top 32 competing. Last year, Caroline Wozniacki defeated Vera Zvonareva in the finals.

The second of the two big US Open Series events will be at Cincinnati. All of the top WTA players are expected to show up here as well. Last year, Kim Clijsters defeated Maria Sharapova in the finals.

The final event of the US Open Series is at New Haven. Its field is highlighted by Caroline Wozniacki, the defending champion. She beat Nadia Petrova here in three sets in the finals. The other top players here are Francesca Schiavone, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Agniezska Radwanska.

So who do I think will win the US Open Series? I'll give it to Caroline Wozniacki. Although she hasn't really been delivering at the slams, she does well during the summer hardcourt season. She basically has the New Haven title in the bag as there isn't really anyone there who can beat her. Wozniacki does really well at big events that aren't slams, so she will probably win the US Open Series. However, I don't see her winning the US Open.