JUST who will emerge victorious in the 2020 US Open women’s tournament where six of the top 10 – including the top two players – are not attending? In our tournament preview, we take a look at just who is playing, who some of the contenders are, as well as the Round 1 matchups to watch.

WHO IS NOT PLAYING?

The two biggest names in terms of rankings, Ash Barty and Simona Halep will not compete in this year’s US Open, while Elina Svitolina, Bianca Andreescu, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic – all Europeans – will not be there either. The 32 seeds usually stretch to roughly world number 34 or 35 depending on injuries, but in 2020, the last seed, Rebecca Peterson, is at 46 in the world. Critically, the reigning champion in Andreescu will not defend her crown at Flushing Meadows.

WHO IS PLAYING?

Basically all of the United States contingent because they are already in the country, as well as those who opted to take part in the US circuit instead of the European one. Of the top ranked players, Karolina Pliskova is seeded one and Naomi Osaka is at fourth for the non-United States contingent, with the two American talents, Sofia Kenin and Serena Williams in there as well. The lower ranked Europeans such as Aryna Sabalenka, Petra Kvitova, Petra Martic and Johanna Konta are all there, knowing they can rise into the top 10 with a good performance.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE CONTENDERS?

After failing at her last two starts, the nominal favourite in Williams has question marks about whether she has what it takes to win Grand Slam number 24. Premature losses at both the Top Seed Open and Western & Southern Open – the latter being at the same venue as the US Open – has pundits questioning if she is the Serena of old.

As it stands, Japanese star Osaka is the favourite, though she too will have question marks after making a stand for Black Lives Matter by withdrawing from the Western & Southern Open, only for the tournament directors to put it on hold. Nonetheless, if Osaka plays, she has to be a serious contender, having won there back in 2018 and without Andreescu, is the most recent winner of the event.

In terms of other past winners, Sloane Stephens and Angelique Kerber are both in attendance, as well as Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams whom the latter won back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows 20 years ago. Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sam Stosur are among past winners not contesting the event.

From a seeds perspective, Pliskova and Kvitova lead the charge from a European perspective with the Czech duo hard to stop, even if they, like Williams, are not in the best of form. Kenin could back up her Australian Open title with a win at the US Open to make it consecutive victories, while it could be a roughie like Anett Kontaveit, Dayana Yastremska or Maria Sakkari who could all be crowned for the first time.

FIVE ROUND 1 MATCHES TO WATCH

[31] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Coco Gauff (USA)
[14] Anett Kontaveit (EST) vs. Danielle Collins (USA)
[6] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
[29] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) vs. Iga Swiatek (POL)
[21] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) vs. [WC] Kim Clijsters (BEL)

SUMMARY:

The 2020 US Open has a real new vibe to it that online spectators – as they cannot attend the event – will witness a first time winner, and possibly a first time Grand Slam winner. When the majority of the Europeans pulled out, many believed Serena Williams had one hand on the cup, but make no mistake this title is anyone’s with an open field. With 27 of the 128 players from the United States, no doubt there will be plenty who hope the nation can reclaim the title once again.