The so-called “luck of the draw” can help or hinder a player's chances for success at a tournament, and for Caroline Garcia and Johanna Konta, it would appear that the luck of the draw was not with them for this event.  In what would have easily been a captivating match-up in the second week of a slam in 2017, Garcia and Konta will now have to square off to determine whose US Open campaign will end before it even has a chance to get off the ground.  As the sixth seed, the odds favor the Frenchwoman keeping her campaign hopes alive.  Long touted as a promising talent, the twenty-four-year-old has finally been delivering on her potential the last twelve months and would love to continue her ascent up the ranks with a deep run in New York. 

She hits big and flat enough to dictate her share of the rallies, and the same goes for her serve.  As a top doubles player, she is also crafty around the net and has enough variety in her game to explore various avenues to find a path to victory.  Of course, similar things could be said of Konta.  The former British Number 1 can also produce flat, penetrating groundstrokes from either wing and owns a serve that garners her a decent share of free points.  She has a net game that is underrated, and she is also a better athlete than the Frenchwoman, which plays out in her superior court coverage.  The crucial difference presently between these two combatants is their mental state.  As noted, Garcia has been enjoying a successful twelve months.  By contrast, Konta's game has gone downhill, as she has slipped from a career-high of Number 4 to nearly falling outside of the Top 50.  That said, there is no telling when a top player will suddenly flip that switch, which is what makes this such an intriguing match.  The smart money remains on Garcia, but if Konta does begin to tap into her best form, then an upset could certainly be within the realm of possibility and should hardly be considered a stunner.