The US Open is set to be the highlight of a particularly strenuous tennis season, shaped by an altered schedule due to the Olympics, which pushed many players from the grass courts back to clay. Players are arriving in New York weary but prepared for what could be the most captivating grand slam of the year.
Women’s world No. 1 Iga Świątek has already voiced the challenges of this season, describing the tour as “demanding,” a sentiment echoed by tennis great Chris Evert who mentioned to CNN that this year has been especially tough on players, leading to emotional outbursts on the court. She highlighted the packed schedule, including the Olympics, as a significant drain on players.
As the season wraps up, both Evert and another tennis legend, Martina Navratilova, believe that the women’s draw is particularly unpredictable, though they see only a few, including Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, as potential victors.
Świątek, last year’s champion, has been strong on clay but faltered at the Olympics, though she did manage to claim a bronze medal at the Paris Games and reached the semifinals at the Cincinnati Open. Sabalenka, skipping the Olympics, enters the US Open fresh, bolstered by a commanding win at Cincinnati without losing a set.
In contrast, American Coco Gauff has seen a dip in form in recent tournaments, and Rybakina has struggled at the US Open in the past and recently parted ways with her coach.
On the men’s side, the focus narrows to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz, despite an emotional upset at the Cincinnati Open, continues to impress with his performance this year. Djokovic, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, enters New York aiming for another grand slam to add to his collection. Meanwhile, Sinner, despite off-court controversies and a minor injury, remains a strong contender after his Masters 1000 win in Cincinnati.
Navratilova summed up the atmosphere, noting the fatigue and emotional drain on the players, suggesting that freshness and resilience might determine this year’s champions as they navigate the final challenges of a grueling season.
