LITTLE separates some top players from the next in line and the final grand slam on the tennis calendar will see them all come to blows, with an uncompromised US Open sure to set tongues wagging. With plenty of in-form players making the cut and some huge omissions from the ranks, we preview the ins and outs of the women’s draw and which players to watch.

A number of players return to the US Open this year after a year away, with Ash Barty the big headliner given she sat out of 2020 proceedings. The world number one is a deserving favourite here after clinching the Wimbledon trophy to go with four other 2021 titles, and even a first round Tokyo 2020 Olympics upset will not stop the consistent Australian from going far in the event. 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu also returns to the tournament for the first time since her breakthrough victory, but, like Barty, she has benefited off protected rankings throughout the coronavirus pandemic and has not quite reached her top level since returning to the tour this year. Simona Halep is looking to return to the top 10 rankings after dropping out for the first time in seven years through injury, while Sofia Kenin is the only current top 10 player sitting out of the 2021 event with a couple other notable names in Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Wang Qiang also not taking part in the tournament.

Going off seeding, Barty and world number three Naomi Osaka are arguably the two players to beat, but as recent history has told, just about anyone within the top ranks is in with a viable chance. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka had an excellent start to the year but is still awaiting that grand slam breakthrough, so if she makes it deep into the draw she could prove hard to stop. Osaka is the defending champion and an undeniable star, but occasionally lacks consistency under media or self-induced pressure. Rounding out the top five are a couple on in-form players in Karolina Pliskova – who fell to Barty at Wimbledon and is yet to clinch a title in 2021 – and Elina Svitolina, who won her first title for the year on the weekend via a wildcard entry to the Chicago Women’s Open. Andreescu, 20-year-old Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova, Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova complete the top 10, with Swiatek and Krejcikova most likely to be the top challengers amongst that group purely based on consistency and explosiveness. Barty, Osaka and Krejcikova all have a grand slam title apiece this year, making for an intriguing event as all three vie for a second major trophy.

Of the major challengers, the big players to look out for are the Americans with plenty of depth and ability to go far in major events. Jennifer Brady is the highest ranked American coming in as 13th seed, with Coco Gauff (21st), Jessica Pegula (23rd), Danielle Collins (26th) all hard to stop when they are on song. Factor in the amount of homegrown talent that has stepped up to the plate in recent weeks leading into the event, and it is hard to look past the Americans on the hard courts, especially with so many of them – 23 in fact – lining up for first round berths this week.

Further down the list but still capable of creating upsets are Australian Ajla Tomljanovic whose powerful serve sees her challenge top seeds, and Anett Kontaveit who has lacked a little consistency but claimed her second career title on the weekend in Cleveland so has the form behind her. A number of lower ranked players have consistent game time behind them which top tier players lack during an interrupted season, with Camila Giorgi and Collins a couple who will benefit here with great winning form this season, while Mayar Sherif will want to continue her history-making run and Carla Suarez-Navarro shapes up for her final grand slam after announcing her imminent retirement at the beginning of the season.

Picture credit: Andrew Ong/USTA