US Open 2023: Top five title contenders in women's singles

Iga Swiatek will be defending her title.

The main draw of the US Open 2023 takes place from August 28 to September 10. It will be the 142nd edition of the competition which is also the final Grand Slam of the year. The hard-court tournament will attract the top tennis athletes across multiple categories vying to end the tour on a high and rise in the rankings.

In particular, the expectations are high from the women’s singles category which is shaping up to be extremely competitive. Last year’s winner Iga Swiatek will face stiff competition from other contenders for the title. She will need to unlock an extra level of performance to retain the title in a season that has been full of ups and downs.

As the start of the latest edition of the US Open gets closer by the second, here is a look at the top five title contenders in the women’s singles category:

5. Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina is the fourth seed heading into the US Open 2023. The 24-year-old reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open, indicating her prowess on the hard-court surface. The 2022 Wimbledon champion will aim to finally add the US Open title to her resume and finish the year on a high.

The athlete from Kazakhstan lost in the first round of the 2022 US Open but has since worked on her game, especially on the hard court. The surface complements her playing style which is based on powerful serves and strokes from the baseline.

4. Coco Gauff

Home favourite Coco Gauff will be entering the US Open 2023 shouldering the hopes of the American fans. She will have the backing of the people in the stands and the rest of the country watching through various forms of digital media.

The winner of the 2023 Cincinnati Masters will hope to better her quarter-final finish in the 2022 edition of the US Open. Her form leading up to the Grand Slam is impressive – winning the Washington Open by beating Maria Sakkari. 

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3. Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula is one of the contenders to win the US Open 2023 as she will be playing on the home turf. She is the third seed heading into the final Grand Slam of the year and is expected to reach the business end of the competition.

The American athlete reached the quarter-finals in the last edition, but since, has gained a lot of experience. She will attempt to better her performance and may end up lifting the trophy when the dust settles.

2. Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka won the 2023 Australian Open and that makes her a huge favourite to win the US Open 2023 as well. She is a force on the hard court and a major contender to dethrone Iga Swiatek as the reigning US Open champion in women’s singles.

The 25-year-old Belarusian reached the semi-finals at the 2022 US Open. Her objective this time around would be to go two steps better and finally clinch her second-ever Grand Slam title. Aryna Sabalenka reached the semi-finals of both the French Open and the Wimbledon this year, signalling her form and hunger to finally go all the way.

1. Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek is the reigning champion at the US Open after winning the 2022 edition in style. The World No.1 in the WTA rankings will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Having said that, it would be a difficult challenge for the Polish athlete to replicate her performance from a year ago.

Iga Swiatek has won the French Open in 2023 and would aim to finish on a high. Being the defending champion and top seed adds a lot of pressure. It will be interesting to see if Swiatek crumbles or cruises through it. 

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