US Open 2024: 3 dark horses to win the women's singles title ft. Emma Navarro
Anticipation is high for the season's final Grand Slam, the US Open, which is set to begin on Monday, August 26. The world's best players have all assembled in New York for the same. Top-ranked Iga Swiatek, along with her rival Aryna Sabalenka, are the frontrunners to claim the title.
Swiatek won the US Open two years ago, and Sabalenka was the runner-up last year. The latter also won the recently concluded Cincinnati Open. Jessica Pegula is another player who is in good form at the moment. She won the Canadian Open and reached the final in Cincinnati.
Coco Gauff is the defending champion, and is in questionable form, having crashed out in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. Jasmine Paolini reached the final of the last two Majors and could make a deep run once again. While the spotlight remains on the top players, others are waiting in the wings to seize the day as well.
Here's a look at five dark horses to win the women's singles title at this year's US Open:
#3 Paula Badosa
Badosa's constant struggles with injuries have made her recent resurgence all the more sweeter. Despite facing some physical issues throughout the season, she managed some decent results right from the start. She reached the third round of the Australian Open and the French Open and went a step further at Wimbledon.
Badosa captured her first title in over two years at last month's Citi Open in Washington. It marked her second title at the WTA 500 level, and her third on hardcourts. While she faltered in the second round of the Canadian Open, she was back to her best at the Cincinnati Open.
The Spaniard made the semifinals there, her first at a WTA 1000 tournament since the Indian Wells Open two years ago. She's in pretty good form at the moment, and a deep run at the US Open wouldn't be too surprising. While her record at the venue is quite dismal, she hasn't made it past the second round so far, she has it in her to take the next step and go all the way.
#2 Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez captivated everyone with her run to the final of the US Open three years ago. She went through a murderer's row of opponents to get there as well. It all started with a win over defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round. She then ousted three-time Major champion Angelique Kerber, and top-10 players Elina Svitolina and Sabalenka.
Fernandez beat all of them in three sets to reach the championship round, where she went down to Emma Raducanu in straight sets. Having come so close to tasting success, she will be keen to avoid the mistakes of the past and walk away with the title this year. She's had some pretty decent results in recent weeks, which could potentially translate to another run at the US Open.
While the 21-year-old bowed out in the second round of the Canadian Open in singles, she made the semifinals in doubles. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open in singles, that too after saving a couple of match points against Elena Rybakina in the second round. She also finished as the runner-up in doubles.
Fernandez's recent results are promising, and her never-say-die attitude has often helped her get over the finish line in the past. Her prior experience as a US Open finalist could also come in handy. The young Canadian has got the goods to hoist the winner's trophy if she goes on a rampage once again.
#1 Emma Navarro
Navarro has been one of the breakout stars this season, and her rise to the top has been quite steady. She nabbed her maiden WTA title at the Hobart International at the start of the year and has only improved since then. She reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal at the Indian Wells Open.
Navarro surpassed that result with a semifinal showing at last week's Canadian Open. Her results at the Majors have improved with every subsequent tournament this year. She reached the third round of the Australian Open, the fourth round of the French Open, and the quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
If the trend continues, then it wouldn't be surprising to see Navarro crowned as the US Open champion. She's got two top-10 scalps under her belt this season, and both were high-profile names, Gauff, the defending champion in New York, and Sabalenka, who was the runner-up last year.
However, Navarro will first need to win a match at the US Open. She fell at the first hurdle in both of her prior appearances. However, she's a different player this year, and given her results this season, she has the potential to make some noise in New York.