With the US Open at our doorstep, the tennis world is now descending on New York City, where they will fight it out for the last Grand Slam of the season.

Let’s talk the Women’s draw at the US Open now. Naomi Osaka is the defending champion; however, she has completely fizzled since splitting with Sascha Bajin. She retired with a knee injury in her Cincinnati quarterfinal, and before Cincinnati, she’s been a playing the part of the higher seed player being upset by the non-seeded player in most tournaments. I don’t see that changing at the US Open. Expect to see her exiting early or pulling out completely with injury.

The next one everyone wants to talk about is Serena Williams. The first question is: how bad is the back injury that forced her to retire against Andreescu in Canada and to pull out of Cincinnati? If that injury is healed, I expect to see her in the final. She was playing well this summer and finding her rhythm. In terms of the rest of the field, I wouldn’t be surprised if Madison Keys continues playing “lights out tennis” on her way to the US Open final. Madison Keys had a splendid Cincinnati, finding her game and beating top talent on her way to the title. Another American to watch is Sofia Kenin, I expect her to continue her fine form into the US Open and go deep. She revels in the hard courts, and her results this summer prove it with Semis appearances in Canada and a finals appearance in Cincinnati.

What about the number one seed, Ashleigh Barty? I am conflicted with Barty. One day she’s looking like the number one player she is, and the next she gets beat by a good but not top 10 player. In New York it will be tough, especially with the American crowds rooting for in form players like Williams, Kenin and Keys.

Lastly, there’s Andreescu, her leg has been bothering her since her Rogers Cup title and caused her to withdraw from Cincinnati. If she’s healthy, she’s a world beater and can make the final.