3 minute read
How the leading women's contenders and best Australian hope shape up for the US Open.
HOW THE LEADING WOMEN'S CONTENDERS AND BEST AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR THE US OPEN:
IGA SWIATEK (POL)
Age: 22
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US19,906,763
Career titles: 15
Grand slam titles: 4 (French Open 2020, 2022, 2023; US Open 2022)
US Open win-loss record: 13-3
Best US Open result: champion 2022
While not as dominant as she was entering last year's Open, the defending champion is still a deserved favourite after another stellar season highlighted by a fourth grand slam crown among four titles, including one last month at home in Warsaw.
ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,044,545
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)
US Open win-loss record: 15-5
Best US Open results: semi-finalist 2021, 2022
With the grand slam monkey finally off her back, expect the Australian Open champion to take a power of stopping back on her preferred hard-court surface. Already boasts three titles and five finals in 2023 and was a semi-finalist at the French Open and Wimbledon.
JESSICA PEGULA (USA)
Age: 29
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,215,768
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 9-6
Best US Open result: quarter-finalist 2022
The American showcased her credentials with a march to the Montreal title two weeks ago, knocking off Coco Gauff and Swiatek en route to the title, to prove her run to the last eight in New York in 2022 was anything but a fluke.
ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ)
Age: 24
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,865,395
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)
US Open win-loss record: 3-4
Best US Open result: third round 2021
Don't expect a repeat of her shock first-round exit last year when suffering an understandable hangover from her Wimbledon triumph. The Kazakh is a new player now, downing Swiatek three times already this year and going within a set of adding the Australian Open crown to her grand slam collection.
ONS JABEUR (TUN)
Age: 28
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US11,577,157
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 13-7
Best US Open result: finalist 2022
After a slow start to the season, the Tunisian roared to life with a charge to a second straight Wimbledon final. That made it three grand slam deciders in 13 months without lifting a trophy. Clearly capable and undoubtedly hungry to break through on one of the sport's biggest stages.
COCO GAUFF (USA)
Age: 19
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,057,463
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 7-4
Best US Open result: quarter-finalist 2022
It's incredible to think that four years after stunning seven-times grand slam champ Venus Williams at Wimbledon, the American prodigy is still a teenager. Looks primed to break through after enjoying a brilliant lead-in with titles in Washington and Cincinnati.
BEST OUTSIDER
KAROLINA MUCHOVA (CZE)
Age: 27
Ranking: 10
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,734,545
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 7-5
Best US Open result: fourth round 2020
The one-time Australian Open quarter-final slayer of Ash Barty has cracked the top 10 for the first time after finally ridding herself of injury. Consistency has followed, with the Czech making the French Open final and reaching the final at this month's Cincinnati event before losing to Gauff.
BEST AUSSIE HOPE
AJLA TOMLJANOVIC
Age: 30
Ranking: 130
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,650,758
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 10-9
Best US Open result: quarter-finalist 2022
The three-time grand slam quarter-finalist is contesting her first event of a season wrecked by a knee injury. Will be hoping the memories of her stirring run to the last eight in 2022, including a career-ending victory over Serena Williams, can inspire another improbable charge.
