Prospects: Williams arrived at the same scene a year ago chasing the calendar Grand Slam, but she was somehow usurped by Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals. She has relinquished her Australian Open and French Open titles, but reminded people she remains a Grand Slam-winning force with a dominant win over Kerber at Wimbledon last month when she appeared to be switched on from the first serve.

Before a home crowd in New York, she will start favourite to claim a 23rd Grand Slam that would take her beyond her own and Steffi Graf's modern day mark of 22 Majors. Is not the certainty she was once was, but at her best, when her head is focused on the task, remains better than the field. And she continues to live for Grand Slam tennis.

Serena Williams clinches her 22nd Grand Slam title at Wimbledon

Image credit: AFP

Prediction: Champion

Angelique Kerber (Germany)

Age: 28

World ranking: 2

Grand Slam wins: 1

Australian Open 2016

2016 titles: 2

Australian Open
WTA Stuttgart

Odds: 10/1

Prospects: Kerber has produced a surging 2016. It began impeccably with her win over Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open, and has continued throughout the summer with the German player losing to Williams in the Wimbledon final, Monica Puig in the final of the Olympics and Karolina Pliskova in the final of Cincinnati.

The German woman is chasing Williams at the top of the rankings, and it would be a huge pot at stake if the two top seeds reach the final with the trophy, tennis history and game's top ranking on the line. Her best effort at the US Open was reaching the final of the event five years ago when she lost to winner Samantha Stosur in the last four. On current form, she will take some stopping.

Angelique Kerber poses with Australian Open trophy

Image credit: Imago

Prediction: Final

Garbine Muguruza (Spain)

Age: 22

World ranking: 3

Grand Slam wins: 1

French Open 2016

2016 titles: 1

French Open

Odds: 12/1

Prospects: Muguruza learned from losing the Wimbledon final to Serena Williams a year ago by downing the American icon in straight sets in the final of the French Open. She lost to Monica Puig in the third round of the Olympics, but the Puerto Rico player progressed to carry off the gold. Muguruza is only 22, and is very much the future of the game.

If she finds momentum and form to support her naturally aggressive style, the hard courts of Flushing Meadows should assist her to make a serious title at the title. Certainly, her best of reaching the second round last year should be dramatically improved upon.

Garbiñe Muguruza with the Roland Garros trophy (2016)

Image credit: AFP

Prediction: Semi-finals

Roberta Vinci (Italy)

Age: 33

World ranking: 8

Grand Slam wins: 0

2016 titles: 1

St. Petersburg

Odds: 150/1

Prospects: For a figure who managed to reach the final a year ago by beating Serena Williams in the last four, it is somewhat astonishing that Vinci is priced at 150-1 to win this year's event. She lost to fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta in the final, but won her first trophy since 2013 this year in St Petersburg to reach the world's top 10.

At the age of 33, she will not be looked upon as a serious contender to emerge victorious, but outside of Serena, there are not too many women who have the ability to dominate the sport. Flushing Meadows remains her favourite surface, and she will be dangerous if she can run into some form.

Roberta Vinci - St Petersbourg 2016

Image credit: Imago

Prediction: Quarter-finals

Johanna Konta (Great Britain)

Age: 25

World ranking: 14

Grand Slam wins:

2016 titles: 1

WTA Stanford

Odds: 40/1

Prospects: Not only do Great Britain have a viable prospect in the men's singles in Andy Murray, in Johanna Konta, the country possess a figure who looks like she could enjoy a serious run to the latter stages of the women's singles in New York.

Her glorious play in reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in January was impressive, and she backed up it by claiming a title in Stanford in America last month, which included a win over Venus Williams in the final. If she can maintain consistency on serve, there is every chance she could emerge from a pack chasing Serena to go deep into week two.