1. KIM CLIJSTERS
Players to watch at the US Open that begins Monday…
Seeded: 23Age: 29Country: BelgiumTopspin: Insists the 2012 U.S. Open will be the last tournament of her career. … One of the most popular players on tour — among fans, officials and even opponents. … Owns a 21-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows dating to 2005, when she won her first Grand Slam title. Missed the tournament the next three years, then came out of retirement shortly before the 2009 U.S. Open and won it again. After successfully defending that title in 2010, skipped the event again last year because of a stomach muscle injury.
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2. PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 5Age: 22Country: Czech RepublicTopspin: 6-foot-tall left-hander has skills to succeed on hard courts, but hasn’t been able to put together a strong showing at Flushing Meadows, including last year’s straight-set loss to 48th-ranked Alexandra Dulgheru in the first round. … Grand Slam losses this year have come against Sharapova (semifinals at both Australian Open, French Open) or Williams (quarterfinals at Wimbledon).
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3. MARIA SHARAPOVA
Seeded: 3Age: 25Country: RussiaTopspin: Made a brief stay back at No. 1 in the WTA rankings after completing a career Grand Slam by winning first French Open title in June. … Represented a real return after struggling to adjust following October 2008 surgery on her right, racket-swinging shoulder. … Since winning the U.S. Open in 2006, has made it past the third round only once — and that was only a fourth-round appearance in 2010.
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4. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA
Seeded: 2Age: 23Country: PolandTopspin: Retired during match at New Haven Open tuneup tournament, citing bothersome right shoulder, but expects to play at U.S. Open. … Never so much as a Grand Slam semifinalist until Wimbledon, where she broke through by making it all the way to the final before losing to Serena Williams. … Six of her first eight losses this season came against Azarenka. … Four of the past six Grand Slam champions were first-time major title winners.
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5. VICTORIA AZARENKA
Seeded: 1Age: 23Country: BelarusTopspin: U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam tournament where she hasn’t been past the fourth round — and she’s only made it that far once in New York, way back in 2007. Her game, though, should be better-suited for Flushing Meadows’ hard courts. … Won her first major title in January at the Australian Open. … Her 26-match winning streak was the longest at the start of a season since 1997.