I wish she'd played Madrid. I was really annoyed when she skipped it. Toronto and Cincy are clear cases of withdrawals induced by injury imo so I don't fault her there.
As for Kerber and bottling it up: I'll go ahead and defend her record a bit.
Kerber's played four key matches this year: AO finals (significant due to being a GS final), W finals (same), Olympic final (significant because, hell, it's Olympics - you don't get another chance until four years later!) and CIncy final (significant for giving her the opportunity to take number 1 ranking). I would contend the only match she bottled up was the last one.
In the W final, she played against an in-form, focused Serena with rock solid serve. She committed 9 UEs total, so around 4-5 per set. By comparison, she committed 13 UEs total at AO. Since that was a three-setter, the average UE count per set is about on par with her W stats: a little over 4 per set. Now I know that UE stat isn't end-all; be-all; but I contend that her stats in the W final are otherwise completely comparable to her AO final.
In short, I would contend Kerber played her best tennis that day; the Kerber of AO final showed up. The only reason she didn't win was because her opponent is a greater player who also showed up to play that day. If Serena had been as nervy as she'd been in the AO final, Kerber would've taken it. Kerber seemed gracious and relieved more than disappointed post-finals, and I think it was because she knew she hadn't bombed, she'd done the best she could.
Indeed, I gained new respect for Kerber post that final. She's now played 2GS finals at a high - in fact her best - level. That's no small feat.
Olympics: Kerber melted down somewhat in the third set. 9 errors in that set alone. Can't be said she was at her very best. BUT, I think she'd have lost regardless. Puig was completely inspired and would have taken her no matter what. That is the drawback of defense-based tennis, at least on women's side - if your aggressive opponent is having a day of her life, not much you can do. Kerber could have managed a better scoreline, but in my view, she'd have lost anyway.
That leaves us with Cincy. Indeed a meltdown - I watched the entire match and Pliskova did nothing special. But exhaustion must have had a lot to do with it. I certainly wouldn't say nerves were the only factor.
If Kerber comes to USO rested and at 100 percent physically, I really think she'll play well and won't bottle it up until/unless she runs into another aggressive player having a day of her life.
