5WOMEN WOMAN TO WATCH

SERENA WILLIAMS 1 Odds: 4/1 This looks to be a Herculean task, after a poor Open tuneup season and with a vicious draw that could have her play sister Venus in the third round, No. 1 Simona Halep in the fourth and Garbine Muguruza in the quarters. Though Williams traipsed to the Wimbledon finals, she’s been inconsistent.

ANGELIQUE KERBER 2 Odds: 7/1

Tough to bet against the German in this spot after beating Serena at Wimbledon in the finals and with a 2016 Open title on her résumé. Also has a good draw and enough grit to do well here for years.

SLOANE STEPHENS 3 Odds: 8/1

The defending U.S. Open champion still is an enigma. How do you lose eight straight matches after winning the Open? The quirky but speedy slugger won it last year with nothing to lose, and now the pressure will be on. If she isn’t always motivated, she’s become a smarter player. Made finals at French Open and Montreal.

SIMONA HALEP 4 Odds: 11/2

Despite her No. 1 ranking, finally winning her first Grand Slam at the 2018 French Open and cruising through summer, she showed she still can crack in big spots, blowing the match in Cincinnati final last Sunday against Kiki Bertens. MADISON KEYS 5 Odds: 15/1 If she harnesses all that brute power and her wrists are healthy, Keys, a 2017 Open finalist, could win this whole thing.