‘Unprecedented Openness’: Who Will Be the US Open Champion in New York Among the ‘Cranky’ Stars?

The tennis world turns its attention to the US Open, the final grand slam of the season, which promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the year. Due to the Olympics altering the usual schedule, many top players have shifted from grass courts back to clay, leading up to this pivotal event in New York. As players arrive in the city, they face the repercussions of what has been one of the most challenging seasons ever.

World No. 1 Iga Świątek has already highlighted the grueling nature of the tour this year, describing it as exceptionally demanding. Chris Evert, an 18-time grand slam champion, echoed this sentiment, stating that the season has been obviously tough for everyone. According to Evert, the intense emotions and exhaustion from a full schedule, including the Olympics, have led to visible stress and fatigue among players.

Evert and Martina Navratilova both agree that predicting a winner in the women’s draw is challenging, with the field seemingly open beyond the top four contenders: Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. Świątek, who won the US Open in 2022, has been dominant on clay but experienced an unexpected semifinal loss at the Olympics. Despite a comeback to secure a bronze medal and a semifinal appearance at the Cincinnati Open, she was defeated by Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, having skipped the Olympics, is seen as a strong favorite for the US Open. She reported feeling “fresh” and has shown impressive form recently, highlighted by her Cincinnati Open victory.

Coco Gauff, the defending champion and world No. 3, has struggled in recent months, with early exits from several tournaments. Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has also faced difficulties, including a recent split from her coach and illness that kept her out of major events.

On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner stand out as the top contenders. Alcaraz, after a dramatic loss to Djokovic in the Olympic final, has had a stellar year, adding two grand slams and a Masters 1000 title to his achievements.

Djokovic, who won the Olympic gold medal, will be defending his US Open title and aiming for his 25th grand slam singles title. Sinner, recently winning his third Masters 1000 title, is in fine form but has faced some off-court issues, including controversies related to banned substances and changes in his support team.