Iga Swiatek regains US Open title, Coco Gauff & Aryna Sabalenka recapture form, Elena Rybakina struggles – our WTA hard-court summer predictions
It’s been an intriguing season on the WTA Tour so far, with things taking a very similar path to the 2023 season.
Aryna Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title and Iga Swiatek made it a ‘threepeat’ at Roland Garros, before a surprise Czech winner at Wimbledon – this time in the form of Barbora Krejcikova.
Ahead of the hard-court summer, we make our predictions for what could be a fascinating next stage of the calendar.
Swiatek surges in New York
The Olympics were bittersweet for Swiatek, with the Pole taking home a bronze medal – but falling short of her golden ambition.
That came off the back of a disappointing Wimbledon campaign, though there is no doubt she’s been the player of the year, reigning supreme as No 1 and winning five big titles.
Swiatek has had success in New York previously, winning the US Open in 2022, and she is one of the favourites heading in.
With time to rest after Paris and conditions that suit her, we think a sixth Grand Slam title could head her way.
No title defence for Gauff – but she still stars
World No 2 Coco Gauff will be the face of the US Open, a year on from winning her first Grand Slam title on home soil in New York.
After a strong start to 2024, her form has dipped a little recently, falling early at Wimbledon and the Olympics – with her forehand starting to look vulnerable once again.
Pressure is on her to defend titles in New York – and Cincinnati before that – but she has proven she can play well at those events, and handle home expectations.
We expect her to star once again and still go deep at multiple events this summer.
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Sabalenka gets her groove back
Sabalenka’s absence at Wimbledon was sorely felt, with the world No 3 and perennial Slam contender absent with a shoulder issue.
In her first event since then, she looked a little ragged in Washington, beaten in the last four and not quite looking herself.
However, she is always a threat at the biggest events, and she has time to round into form nicely ahead of the US Open.
Having reached at least the quarter-final of the last seven majors she has played, she should be reaching the business end of Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina’s patchy summer continues
It’s been another strange season for Elena Rybakina, who has won three 500-level titles – but has had a lot of ups and downs elsewhere.
Once again, illness has been an issue, forcing her out of her Indian Wells and Rome title defences – and then the Olympics just a fortnight ago.
The hard-court summer has never been the happiest hunting ground for the Kazakh, who has never made it past round three at the US Open.
Based on how this season has gone, we have limited expectations for her over the coming weeks.
Krejcikova and Qinwen to threaten
After dropping off during the middle part of the season, Krejcikova and Zheng Qinwen surged back into form with huge triumphs at SW19 and the Olympics respectively.
Both are great competitors and approach the summer with huge confidence, particularly Zheng – who has now won back-to-back titles.
The Chinese star reached her first Slam quarter-final at the US Open in 2023, and she can certainly threaten once again.
While Krejcikova, now the winner of two major singles titles, is also a past Flushing Meadows quarter-finalist – and will be tricky to beat.
