In the city that never sleeps are 128 women hoping to fulfil their dream of becoming the 2019 US Open women’s champion.
The final grand slam of the season takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center located in Flushing Meadows, New York. The venue is home to the Arthur Ashe stadium. A 23,771 capacity tennis stadium, which is the largest in the world. Over the next two weeks the likes of Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Serena Williams and more will be fighting for grand slam glory and $3.85 million in prize money.
Here are the things to know about the 2019 draw.
The race to world No.1
Four different players have the chance of exiting the US Open as world No.1. Naomi Osaka currently has a 105-point lead over second placed Ash Barty. Meanwhile, both Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep are also in with a shout of dethroning Osaka.
Osaka faces a tough task of keeping hold of her top spot and is required to defend her title to even have a chance. Should she win the US Open, the Japanese player could still lose her position if Barty reaches the quarter-finals or Pliskova reach the semi-final.
French Open champion Barty is the player in the strongest position. Given the fact she is defending almost 1800 fewer points than Osaka (240 compared to 2000). A run to the final would guarantee her the No.1 position no matter what as she is on course to play Pliskova in the semi-finals.
Pliskova is required to reach the quarter-finals to have a chance. Something the Czech has done in the past three editions of the tournament, including reaching the final back in 2016. Her best ever performance at a grand slam to date. Pliskova has a win-loss record of 16-6 at the US Open so far in her career.
Finally, Halep is required to win the title if she wants to have the chance of becoming world No.1. A big ask for the Romanian who has only reached the semi-finals once in nine previous appearances.
Who is defending the most points?
Being the reigning champion 21-year-old Osaka is the player with the most at stake when it comes to ranking points. She will be defending 2000 points in Flushing Meadows, which is 20 times more than that of Simona Halep (10). Halep lost in the first round last year.
For some players a deep run could help them rise rapidly up the rankings. Bianca Andreescu has been somewhat of a revelation this season as she won titles in Indian Wells and at the Rogers Cup. She has nothing to defend so a run in New York will be nothing, but a bonus. She is currently just under 400 points away from her top 10 debut.
Meanwhile, there are three seeded players defending only 10 points – Halep, Johanna Konta and Belinda Bencic.
The top 16 seeds and the points they are defending
1. Naomi Osaka, Japan – 2000 points
2. Ashleigh Barty, Australia – 240 points
3. Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic – 430 points
4. Simona Halep, Romania – 10 points
5. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine – 240 points
6. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic – 130 points
7. Kiki Bertens, Netherlands – 130 points
8. Serena Williams, United States – 1300 points
9. Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus – 240 points
10. Madison Keys, United States – 780 points
11. Sloane Stephens, United States – 430 points
12. Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia – 780 points
13. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland – 10 points
14. Angelique Kerber, Germany – 130 points
15. Bianca Andreescu, Canada – 0 points
16. Johanna Konta, Great Britain – 10 points
The been there and done that group
A closer look at the women’s draw illustrates the depth of the WTA Tour at present. 10 former world No.1 players (not counting current No.1 Osaka) and 15 grand slam champions are participating. The most decorated of those is 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams. A player who had spent 319 weeks as world No.1. The third longest streak in history after Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
Out of those 15 grand slam winners, eight previously triumphed at the US Open. Although only two of those have won in New York on multiple occasions. Venus Williams (2000-2001) and sister Serena (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-2014).
Past US Open champions participating
Angelique Kerber (2016)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004)
Naomi Osaka (2018)
Maria Sharapova (2006)
Samantha Stosur (2011)
Sloane Stephens (2017)
Serena Williams (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-14)
Venus Williams (2000-01)
Serena’s slam goal
Since returning to tennis following the birth of her daughter, it has been a case of so near, but so far for 37-year-old Williams. She has contested the final in three out of the past five grand slams. However, she has lost them all in straight sets. The most high-profile was at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago where she engaged in a tense confrontation with umpire Carlos Ramos. Who will not be umpiring her matches this year.
Should Williams break the drought, she would finally draw level with Margaret Court for the most grand slam singles titles won by a woman. However, the American has already won more than anybody else in the Open Era.
There is also another milestone looming if Williams was to win the US Open. She would become the most successful female player in the Open Era in terms of match wins to play at the event. She currently has 95 victories to her name, which is second to Chris Evert’s tally of 101. Should she claim the title, Williams would increase her number to 102.
Williams will play Maria Sharapova in the first round on Monday. She has incredibly only lost an opening match at a grand slam once out of 72 appearances. That was to Virginie Razzano at the 2012 French Open.
The old and the young
24 years separates the oldest competitor from the youngest in this year’s draw. Wild card entrant Cori Gauff has gained a surge in media attention in recent months following her run to the Wimbledon fourth round. At the age of 15, she is one of the youngest women to ever contest the main draw. In total five out of the eight wild card entrants this year are under the age of 17.
[WC] GAUFF, COCO (USA) 15
[WC] PARRY, DIANE (FRA) 17
[WC] OSUIGWE, WHITNEY (USA) 17
[WC] VOLYNETS, KATIE (USA) 17
[WC] MCNALLY, CATHERINE (USA) 17
At the other end of the spectrum, Venus Williams is showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 39. She is one of 25 women in the draw aged over 30. The US Open will be Venus’ 84th appearance in a grand slam main draw. She made her grand slam debut at the 1997 French Open. Seven years before Gauff was born.
Osaka’s title defence
It was 12 months ago when Osaka became the first Asian woman in history to claim a major title. Triggering a surge in her popularity with both fans and sponsors. Seeking to defend her title, the top seed hopes to join an elite list. Just 15 players have managed to defend a title at the US Open since the end of the second world war in 1945. Furthermore, over the past 20 years only three players have achieved the milestone – both of the Williams sisters and Kim Cjisters.
“I think going to Indian Wells and kind of learning how defending champion pressure feels, I think it definitely helped me out going into this tournament,” Osaka said ahead of her title defence. “Because I just feel more loose and comfortable here. I’m not sure if it’s because the last couple of months have been kind of turbulent, but definitely I feel really comfortable and I know that, despite everything, I play well here every year. So I’m not too worried about that.”
This year is the first time Osaka has been seeded in the top 16 at Flushing Meadows. Should she win, she will become the ninth woman in the Open Era to claim three grand slam titles on hard courts.
