By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 23, 2023

 

Iga Swiatek may be the favorite in New York, but her aura of invincibility isn't what it was last year.

Photo Source: Getty

With qualifiers kicking off at the 2023 US Open this week, and most top players descending onto the grounds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows for practice and media obligations, we figured it is high time that we take a look at this year’s major contenders and potential noisemakers, starting with the women’s side.



Here are 10 players to watch – and why – at the 2023 US Open:

Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek will look to complete her second successful Grand Slam title defense of the year after winning her fourth major title in Paris this spring. But the aura of invincibility that followed Swiatek in 2022 has dissipated a bit this season. The 22-year-old Pole is just 6-6 against the Top-10 in 2023, compared to 15-2 last year, and she’s given up ground to her rivals, namely Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, as well as Coco Gauff and even Jessica Pegula.

But Swiatek is a big match – and big event – maven and she’ll come in as the favorite. It will be interesting to see if she can rise above the field yet again.

Coco Gauff

Gauff has flipped the script on her season in the last month, getting up off the canvas of a difficult first-round loss at Wimbledon and winning 11 of 12 as she racked up titles at the Citi Open in D.C. and the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. With Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert injecting a new air of confidence in the group, Gauff could be headed for a career-best performance in New York.

The 19-year-old reached the quarterfinals last year in New York before falling to Caroline Garcia in straight sets. This year could mark another step closer to the promised land.

Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka has turned her career around in 2023, erasing doubts that surrounded her last season and winning her maiden major title as she chases down the impossible dream of catching Iga Swiatek for the WTA’s No.1 ranking. The 25-year-old World No.2 is in position to do that again this season, and enters the Open with an impressive 24-5 hardcourt record. She has reached at least the semifinals in all three majors this season.

Elena Rybakina

Rybakina has been a tour de force in 2023, reaching the final at the Australian Open, then winning titles at Indian Wells and Rome. She has never been beyond the third round at the US Open, but if the 24-year-old World No.4 is healthy 2023 could be the year that changes her fortunes in the Big Apple.

Rybakina has had a tricky hard court swing, being affected by a 3 AM finish in Montreal and struggling with what looks like a shoulder injury in Cincinnati. If she’s 100 percent she should be good for a deep run, however.

Ons Jabeur

It has been a tricky season for Jabeur due to injuries, but she showed what she can accomplish when at peak fitness at Wimbledon. Though she didn’t win the title she demonstrated that she is right there with the top talents on tour at the big events. She has played just one event post Wimbledon, reaching the quarterfinal in Cincinnati before falling to Sabalenka.

Jessica Pegula

Pegula continues to be the WTA’s consistency standard, as she finds her way deep into virtually every big draw she enters. Things have improved for the Buffalo native against World No.1 Iga Swiatek as well, as the American has registered two wins over the Polish juggernaut this season, including one en route to her recent 1000-level title in Montreal.

Karolina Muchova

Talented, artful Muchova opened so many eyes with her thrilling run to the Roland-Garros final, now the question is whether or not she has the ability to continue delivering results that match her new Top 10 ranking. Gamewise, no question. But she’ll have to stay healthy and watch out behind her, because now she’s playing with a target on her back.

Marketa Vondrousova

Ditto for the talented Czech southpaw, who is still adjusting to life as a Wimbledon champion. Credit to the 24-year-old Czech, who went 5-2 on the hard courts this summer, proving that she’s not on Wimbledon walkabout.

Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams

A pair of legends will bless US Open faithful with their presence next week and while we aren’t sure what 33-year-old Caroline Wozniacki and 43-year-old Venus Williams can accomplish at this stage of their respective careers, we know we’ll be glued to their matches in the hope that they can catch lightning in a bottle and create a win – or a few wins – for the ages.
,/br> Wozniacki, a two-time finalist who last played the Open in 2019, owns a 38-13 lifetime record in Queens.

Williams, a two-time champion, is 79-20 at the US Open, but she did pull out of Cleveland this week with an injury.

Mirra Andreeva

All eyes will be on talented Russian Mirra Andreeva, who will make her US Open debut after producing stunning performances at Roland-Garros (third round) and Wimbledon (round of 16) earlier this year. At 16, she’s looking like a future force in the women’s game.

Keep it tuned to Tennis Now during the US Open fortnight. We’ll be on site from first ball to last and bring you all the best from the Flushing fortnight!