5 'One Slam wonders' who'll be looking to break the jinx at US Open 2024 ft. Emma Raducanu, Bianca Andreescu
The 2024 US Open is set to be played from August 26 to September 8, with Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff as the defending champions. There are many more contenders for the title, including former Grand Slam champions such as Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu, who will look to shed the 'One Slam wonder' reputation in New York this year.
Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek will head the men's and women's singles main draw at the 2024 US Open. Apart from them, Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina, and many more tennis stars will hope to get their hands on the year's last Grand Slam title. The tournament will also feature many former Major champions, some of whom are one-time winners.
With that said, let's take a look at five 'One Slam wonders' who will look to win their second Grand Slam title at the 2024 US Open.
#5 Sofia Kenin
Sofia Kenin stunned the tennis world when she emerged victorious at the 2020 Australian Open. The American was seeded 14th at the tournament and bettered Garbine Muguruza to lift her maiden Grand Slam title at the Rod Laver Arena. A few weeks later, she rose to the World No. 4 ranking.
After the Covid break, Kenin reached her second Major final at the 2020 French Open but came up short against Iga Swiatek. For her performances that season, Kenin was given the WTA Player of the Year award.
However, since then, it has all been downhill for the American. Struggling with form and injury, Kenin briefly fell out of the top 200 on the WTA Ranking. She has done well enough to regain some momentum and is currently placed at the World No. 55 spot.
Kenin will have an opportunity to add another Major title to her resume at Flushing Meadows this year. However, her chances are slim, considering her current form and history at the tournament. Her best performance at the US Open was a fourth-round finish in 2020. The 25-year-old will face Emma Raducanu in the first round at Flushing Meadows this year.
#4 Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev is the most successful player on this list. The Russian has won 20 titles on the ATP Tour, including his only Grand Slam success at the 2021 US Open. Medvedev was seeded second in New York in 2021 and defeated Novak Djokovic in the title contest, becoming the first Russian man since 2005 to win a Major.
The former World No. 1 has come close to lifting his second Grand Slam title many times. He finished runner-up at the Australian Open three times (2021, 2022, 2024) and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon twice (2023, 2024). The Russian also finished runners-up in New York twice, in 2019 and 2023.
Last year, Medvedev stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to reach his second final in New York but had to settle for the runner-up position after losing to Djokovic. He will again be amongst the favorites for the title at the 2024 US Open and begin his campaign as the fifth seed against Dusan Lajovic.
#3 Jelena Ostapenko
Jelena Ostapenko became the first Latvian ever to win a Grand Slam title when became emerged victorious at the 2017 French Open. She was ranked World No. 47 during the 2017 French Open and defeated the likes of Samantha Stosur, Carolina Wozniacki, Timea Bacsinszky, and Simona Halep to lift the title.
The former World No. 5 has been trying to get her hands on a Grand Slam title again since then but has not been successful. The closest she came was at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, where she reached the semifinals.
Ostapenko would be hoping for a good showing in New York this year after beating World No. 1 Iga Siwatek in 2023 en route to a quarterfinal finish. The 27-year-old is seeded 10th at the 2024 US Open and will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a mouth-watering first-round match.
#2 Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu was at the pinnacle of her tennis career in 2019 when she won the Indian Wells Open, Canadian Open, and her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. She was 18 years old at the 2019 US Open and defeated American legend Serena Williams in the final to become the first teenage Grand Slam singles champion since 2006.
Andreescu rose to her highest-ever ranking of World No. 4 in 2019. However, since then, the Canadian's career has been rocked by many serious injuries to her ankle and back, which have forced her to take multiple months-long hiatuses. The Canadian has not been in Grand Slam contention since 2019, with her best Major performance being a fourth-round finish at the 2021 US Open.
At the 2024 US Open, she has been given a main draw wildcard and will face fifth seed Jasmine Paolini in the first round.
#1 Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu became the most unlikely Grand Slam champion when she was crowned as the first-ever qualifier winner of a Major at the 2021 US Open. Aged just 18 at the time, Raducanu did not drop a set throughout the tournament. She registered straight sets wins in her three qualifying matches and then dispatched Stefanie Vogele, Zhang Shuai, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Shelby Rogers, Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari, and Leylah Fernadez en route to the title.
Like Andreescu, Raducanu has struggled with injuries since winning in New York and has not been able to play consistent tennis on the WTA Tour. A fourth-round finish at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships has been the Brit's best Grand Slam performance since the 2021 US Open triumph.
Raducanu is currently ranked World No. 71 and will take on Sofia Kenin in the opening round of the 2024 US Open.