With six of the world’s top eight players on the WTA Tour out of this year’s US Open, one key word comes to mind when looking at the draw: opportunity.
Even though there’s a slew of major champions in the field, the chance for other contenders, both past and present, to claim one of the sport’s biggest prizes is huge. Here’s a look at five of the dark horses that will look to make waves.
1
Venus Williams
In the years since her late-career resurgence in 2017, Williams has had more on-court disappointments than memorable moments. Still, she can never be discounted in any tournament she enters and the US Open, where she’s won twice, is no exception. She faces the dangerous Czech, 20th-seeded Karolina Muchova, in the opening round, with the prospect of more difficult matches throughout her section of the draw. Her game is tailor-made for the conditions in New York, and with this tournament up for grabs, maybe this is the time for one of her last great Slam pushes.
2
Victoria Azarenka
Lurking in the same section of the draw with Williams is another former Grand Slam champion, one that could be considered the hottest player on the planet right now. Azarenka is fresh off the title in Cincinnati, her first as a mom, and though she didn’t play the final, she showed flashes of her old form throughout the week. Confidence has always been a key part of her game, and this latest victory will surely provide a boost.
3
Jennifer Brady
The young American got off to a solid start in 2020 before the shutdown, with a semifinal showing in Dubai—after qualifying—her best result. When play resumed, she dominated in Kentucky, as she won her first career singles title without dropping a set. With the multiple withdrawals at the US Open, she’s seeded at a major for the first time, and has the potential to go far in the tournament, especially if she’s serving like she did a few weeks ago.
4
Coco Gauff
Who knows what Gauff would have accomplished by now if the tour hadn’t ground to a halt? Her debut last year took the sports world by storm as she played into the second week of Wimbledon and won titles in singles and doubles. The American reached the fourth round in Melbourne this year, and when she returned to action in Lexington, she advanced to the semifinals, beating Aryna Sabalenka along the way. Unseeded at the Open, she already knows how to bring her A-game to the big tournaments and this could be her moment, even with 2018 champ Naomi Osaka in her section of the draw.
5
Jil Teichmann
The 23-year-old appears to be peaking at the right point in her career. In less than a year’s time, the Swiss has reached three tour finals: winning two titles on clay last year and advancing to the final in Kentucky, which she lost to Brady. Though she lost in the second round at the Western & Southern Open, she won three matches overall at the tournament by battling through the qualifying to run her record to 7-2 the past few weeks. Match sharpness could serve her well if she faces Madison Keys in the second round at the Open, and possibly past that.