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US Open 2017: Players under the most pressure on the women’s draw

By Maxwell Ogden

SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 25: Simona Halep (L) of Romania congratulates Angelique Kerber of Germany after their singles match during day 3 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 25: Simona Halep (L) of Romania congratulates Angelique Kerber of Germany after their singles match during day 3 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 10: Angelique Kerber of Germany celebrates with the trophy after winning (6-3), (4-6), (6-4) against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their Women’s Singles Final Match on Day Thirteen of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 10: Angelique Kerber of Germany celebrates with the trophy after winning (6-3), (4-6), (6-4) against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their Women’s Singles Final Match on Day Thirteen of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

3. Angelique Kerber, Germany

Angelique Kerber is a two-time Grand Slam champion and the defending US Open title holder. After reaching three Grand Slam finals in 2016, however, Kerber has crumbled under the pressure of being the world No. 1.

Now down to No. 3 on the WTA Tour, Kerber will look to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam event for the first time in 2017.

Kerber having two Grand Slams, including the 2016 US Open, is reason enough to believe she can win a third. After the debacle that was her run as No. 1, however, she has something to prove as far as discussing the world’s elite is concerned.

In order for Kerber to silence her critics, she’ll need to prove that the past three Grand Slam events have been nothing but a mirage.

It’s worth noting that Kerber is one of the select few women to have defeated Serena Williams in a Grand Slam final. After doing so and reaching three Grand Slam finals in 2016, however, it’s fair to question if her confidence has been irreparably damaged.

If Kerber is going to bounce back and prepare for a WTA Tour that includes Williams again, then she’ll need to at least reach the quarterfinal.

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