US Open Women’s Favourites

 The reigning champion, Aryna Sabalenka, leads the charge, as all eyes are on her to defend her title. Despite her world-class performance, Sabalenka has yet to win a Grand Slam this year and will be eager to end the season on a high note. However, she faces stiff competition from Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys. Let’s take a look at the favorites to win the US Open women’s title.

Aryna Sabalenka

Last year, Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed a successful season, winning two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open and US Open) and finishing the year as the world number one. So far, she has struggled to replicate that success in 2024, failing to secure a Grand Slam title despite coming close on two occasions. In January, during the Australian Open final against Madison Keys, she took a one-set lead but ultimately lost in three sets. The same scenario unfolded at the French Open, where she led by a set before Coco Gauff turned the match around in her favor. Nonetheless, the three-time Grand Slam champion holds a strong record on hard courts and will be a tough opponent to beat.

Iga Swiatek

After an impressive performance at the Cincinnati Masters, where Iga Swiatek claimed the title without losing a set over five matches, she enters the main draw as a leading contender for the title in New York. Swiatek demonstrated her dominance by defeating high-caliber players like Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina en route to the Cincinnati title. The 24-year-old Polish ace has already won one US Open title, having triumphed in 2022. This year, she has been in exceptional form in major tournaments, winning Wimbledon and reaching the semifinals at both the Australian and French Opens.

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff’s achievements so far in her career are remarkable. Many anticipate that she will be regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game by the time she retires. Although she may not yet have the quantity of titles to compare her to legends like Serena Williams, her talent on the court suggests a bright future. The 21-year-old American holds one Grand Slam title this year, having won the French Open after coming back from a set down to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling match. This year, Gauff has had a mixed performance, winning 31 of her 41 matches. She will start the tournament without her long-time coach, Matthew Daly, as they decided to part ways after the Cincinnati Open.

Madison Keys

Madison Keys carries the hopes of the American crowd as she heads into the US Open tournament. The 30-year-old has had an excellent year following her first Grand Slam title victory. In January, she came back from a set down to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in a closely contested match. Keys is determined to impress in front of her home crowd; she reached the US Open final in 2017 but lost to Sloane Stephens in straight sets. As one of the most dynamic, energetic, and hardworking players on the court, Keys is eager to show that she can compete with the top players in the world.

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev remains one of the most talented players in the world, but remarkably, he has yet to win a Grand Slam title. The 28-year-old German has come close on three occasions. In the 2020 US Open final, he had a two-set lead over Dominic Thiem but failed to secure the win. A similar situation occurred in the French Open last year when he lost after winning the first set against Alcaraz. At this year’s Australian Open, Zverev’s struggles resurfaced again when he lost to Jannik Sinner. However, he showed strong form in the Cincinnati Masters, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Alcaraz. If he can bring that level of tennis to New York, he stands a good chance of claiming his first Grand Slam title.

Elena Rybakina

Despite facing a challenging year, Elena Rybakina remains a favorite to win the US Open title. The 26-year-old has struggled to reach the quarterfinals in three Grand Slams this year, with her best result coming at the Australian Open, where she exited in the fourth round. A series of injuries over the past two years has hindered her ability to perform at her best. However, the former Wimbledon champion showed signs of regaining form by reaching the semifinals at the Cincinnati Open, which could motivate her as she approaches the US Open.