There is rarely a US Open that is so uncertain as the one that will set off on Monday, in the women’s draw. Much of this is due to the status of Serena Williams. Since capturing the Wimbledon crown, her season has gone sideways as she has nursed an injury and early losses at the Rio Olympics in both singles and doubles have left many wondering if she is vulnerable in the coming fortnight.

If that were not enough, the pressure of eclipsing Steffi Graf’s career major championships totals continues to make news despite the fact that she equaled the German at Wimbledon. Additionally, Angelique Kerber is nipping at the American’s heels, seeking to end Williams’ long streak atop the world rankings. The 28-year old is more than capable of accomplishing that in New York. Williams and Kerber hold the top two seeds and could only meet in the Final, but each has an interesting course to navigate in order to reach that goal.

Serena will be thrown into the fire quickly, as the top-seed was given no favors in the draw. She will meet Ekaterina Makarova, who could provide a test right off the bat. Williams will take comfort in her 2-0 head-to-head record at the US Open and overall 4-1 record against the left-hander. The Russian has not tested Williams in New York, although they have not met there since 2014. Makarova’s one victory came at the Australian Open in 2012. But if Williams is rusty, Makarova has the firepower, confidence, and experience to hang around in the first-round match. If Serena advances, her path looks less rocky as Ana Ivanovic could be the toughest test between Williams and a potential quarterfinal match with 5th-seeded Simona Halep.

The Romanian could face her own test in the first-round against Kirsten Flipkens, who has played well recently. Unseeded but a dangerous Lucie Safarova might have an opportunity against Halep in the second round if she is successful against the fiery Daria Gavralova.

Meanwhile, Elina Vesnina and veteran Samantha Stosur could also be dangerous tests in the Williams’ quarter of the draw, as well as the always dangerous Jelena Jankovic and Carla Suarez Navarro in a portion that has the look of a competitive one.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska will hope to advance in the second quarter of the draw. The steady veteran looks to have a fairly nice path to the quarterfinals fresh off the heels of her New Haven title. With potential matches against Eugenie Bouchard and perhaps Caroline Garcia, she will be a heavy favorite to advance. Bouchard has won just one set against the Pole in their four matches while Garcia has been more competitive having won one of their 3 head-to-head battles.

6th seeded Venus Williams and 10th seed Karolina Pliskova will look to lead the charge to a potential quarterfinal match with Radwanska. Williams will have the home court advantage in New York and Pliskova arrives fresh off of her Cincinnati title.

In the third quarter of the draw, two power players will set off for a chance to meet in the quarterfinals. 3rd seeded Garbine Muguruza and 8th seed Madison Keys will be favorites to advance but the Spaniard may have to go through Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig, and either Belinda Bencic or Johanna Konta.

Puig has not played since her Rio title and the unknown as to whether she will ride the momentum from that accomplishment or perhaps suffer a letdown will be a factor in this tournament. Meanwhile, Bencic is still looking to return to form following an injury that has forced her to miss a large portion of the season.  Konta may be the player with the best chance at toppling the higher seed as she has had a strong summer with a title in Stanford and quarterfinal efforts in Rio and Montreal.

Meanwhile, Keys is in a portion of the draw heavy with Americans, as Madison Brengle and CoCo Vandeweghe will likely be in her path. 9-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and Barbora Strycova potentially loom in the distance for her. Former world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki will also look to be a dark horse in this section, as well.

In the fourth quarter of the draw, Kerber looks to have some tests to survive if the favorite is to advance. She could see an unseeded but competitive Alize Cornet in the second round and ultimately 14-seed Petra Kvitova prior to the quarterfinals. The two are 4-4 head-to-head but the Czech has won the last two meetings.

Elsewhere, Roberta Vinci and Dominika Cibulkova appear to be on a collision course in the fourth round in this section of the draw.  Vinci has taken the last six out of seven matches between the two competitors. The Slovakian has compiled a modest 4-3 record since her quarterfinal run at Wimbledon. Nonetheless, the winner would look to stop Kerber in her tracks if she survives and advances to the quarterfinal round. Both players have found success against the German as each have split their head-to-head matches, although Kerber has had the majority of success recently.

If the top-four seeds were to advance, it would be Williams squaring off against Radwanska, while Muguruza would meet Kerber. However, all four would have to survive some tests to make this scenario a reality.