The Stars of the Season’s Last Grand Slam Tournament
The main draw of the US Open begins play today, kicking off two weeks of action culminating with the singles’ finals on the 7th and 8th of September at the hallowed Arthur Ashe Stadium. While on the men’s side, most experts are expecting, and fans are hoping, that Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz get a chance to renew their budding rivalry, the women’s tournament looks to be wide open, with American Coco Gauff aiming to defend her crown. Let’s look at some of the players who could have plenty to say at the year’s final grand slam championship.
Coco Gauff, USA
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u.s. Open History
• defending champion
• first American to win US Open since 2017
• 14-4 career record
What’s at stake?
• must recapture mid-season form (has not made a semi-final or better in last four tournaments
• could become first back-to-back women’s singles champion since serena williams (’13, ’14)
the draw
• easiest early draw on paper
• intriguing opponents loom in quarters, including three-time US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka and 2017 champion Sloane Stephens
Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
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u.s. Open History
• 2022 Champion
• lost in semi-final last year to Daniil Medvedev
• 16-2 career record
what’s at stake
• become first men’s singles player to win three straight grand slams since Novak Djokovic (”21)
the draw
• potentially tricky second-round match against talented Denis Shapovalov
• looks to have easiest quarter of the draw
• could face top-seed Jannick Sinner in semi (Alcaraz leads head-to-head 5-4)
Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus
u.s. Open History
• lost last year’s final to Gauff
• Made back-to-back semis in ’21 and ’22
• 21-6 career record
what’s at stake
• must capitalize on great recent play (did not drop a set en route to recent Cincinnati masters title)
• can avenge tough three-set defeat to Gauff in last year’s final
the draw
• loaded quarter to contend with, including former world No. 2 ons Jabeur, former US Open finalist Madison Keys, and recent Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng
Ben Shelton, USA
u.s. Open History
• made semi-final last year (had not made it out of first round in previous two opens)
• 5-2 career record
what’s at stake
• maintain solid hard-court play (Made QF in Cincinnati, SF in Washington)
• no American has made the men’s singles final since 2006 (Andy Roddick)
the draw
• tough first round battle against soon-to-be retiring Dominic Thiem (won US Open in 2020)
• could face Djokovic in round of 16
Naomi Osaka, Japan
u.s. Open History
• two-time champion (’18 and ’20)
• has not gone beyond the third round since 2020
• 22-5 career record
what’s at stake
• rediscover champion form (has only made 2 QF this season
• show tennis world she can still compete at the highest level
the draw
• tough opener against 10-seed Jeļena Ostapenko
