'At its most open': Who among the 'grumbler' stars will emerge victorious as the US Open champion in New York?
Following a modified schedule due to the Olympics, which led numerous top-tier athletes to transition back to clay after the grass court season, numerous players arrive in New York following one of the most exhausting seasons in history.
The global No. 1 in women's tennis, Iga Swiatek, has acknowledged how "demanding" the tour has been this year, while 18-time grand slam champion Chris Evert shared with CNN that it was "a truly tough year for everybody."
She expressed her thoughts to CNN's Christiane Amanpour, mentioning that "I think that's why you've witnessed some on-court breakdowns, emotions are running high.”
She continued, saying that "they're a bit on edge these top players because they've had a full year, they've participated in more tournaments than ever before, plus they took part in the Olympics, which was incredibly stunning and highly emotional. It sapped their energy.”
“It's the end of the year and I think it's open on both sides. It's as wide-open as I've ever seen it, and everyone's a bit weary. It's really going to be the one who discovers that energy and that motivation at the last part of this year to bring out their best tennis for the next two weeks.”
Both Evert and legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova told Amanpour that they find it challenging to envision a winner in the women's draw beyond Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff or Elena Rybakina.
Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, has established herself as a force on clay but experienced a shocking semifinal loss at the Olympics.
She persevered to win the bronze medal in Paris and reached the semifinal at the Cincinnati Open, her first tournament post-Olympics, despite suffering a defeat at the hands of an outstanding Sabalenka.
The Belarusian, a two-time singles Australian Open champion, is undoubtedly considered the favorite heading into the US Open after choosing to skip the Olympics.
Sabalenka recently expressed her feelings of being "refreshed" and has progressively enhanced her form in recent weeks, culminating in a dominant victory at the Cincinnati Open last week without dropping a set.
Meanwhile, home favorite Coco Gauff has been struggling to maintain her form in the second half of the season as she aims to defend her US Open title.
Gauff, the world No. 3, was eliminated in the third round of the Olympics, before losing in the second round of the Canadian Open and then suffered a shocking first-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open last week, where she was the defending champion.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, hasn't advanced past the third round at the US Open, and announced her separation from her coach Stefano Vukov on Friday, just days before the tournament's commencement.
The world No. 4 has clinched three titles in 2024, but her latest triumph occurred back in April and she has recently battled a case of bronchitis that caused her absence from the Olympics and the Canadian Open. Rybakina made her court return at the Cincinnati Open but squandered two match points in a three-set loss to Leylah Fernandez in her first match back.
“Everyone's tired and we'll see who's got the most drive,” Navratilova told CNN. “I think Sabalenka might be the freshest one because she didn't participate in the Olympics. Everyone else is going to be either emotionally drained or dealing with minor injuries.”
"So we'll see who can remain healthy and who wants it the most, but it's going to be wide-open on both sides.”
Three favorites in the men's draw
In the men's draw, it's tough to pick a winner beyond Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz experienced a heartbreaking loss to Djokovic in the gold medal match at the Olympics after defeating the Serbian in straight sets in the Wimbledon final.
This year has been another unbelievable one for the young sensation, who has collected two additional grand slams and a Masters 1000 title to his resume in 2024. Alcaraz, however, exited in the first round of the Cincinnati Open and erupted in frustration by smashing his racket, an uncommon outburst which he later apologized for.
Djokovic was equally emotional at the Olympics, but for different reasons. The 37-year-old secured the gold medal in Paris, the final major title that had eluded him throughout his career, labeling it his "biggest achievement.”
Djokovic serves as the defending champion in New York, with four US Open victories under his belt. He hasn't played since the Olympic final and will likely be feeling relaxed, if not perfectly match-sharp as he goes after a record-extending 25th grand slam singles title.
Sinner, the world No. 1, enters the US Open with excellent form after securing his third career Masters 1000 title at the recent Cincinnati Open, though he appeared to be grappling with a hip injury at times.
However, the 2024 Australian Open winner has been dealing with off-court issues and reportedly ended his partnership with his physiotherapist and coach in the days leading up to the US Open after he evaded a ban for twice testing positive for a banned substance.
After the grueling Olympic season, many tennis players found themselves exhausted and in need of rest before the US Open. Despite the overwhelming schedule, top-tier athletes continued to excel in various tennis tournaments, proving their dedication to the sport.
Following the Olympics, several prominent players, including Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, returned to the court, showcasing their impressive skills and tenacity.
