{
  "id": 3750537,
  "title": "Who are the other women's contenders to look out for at the US Open?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/who-are-the-other-womens-contenders-to-look-out-for-at-the-us-open",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T14:10:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/who-are-other-womens-contenders-look-out-us-open-6345636"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 U.S. Open women's singles tournament will feature several formidable contenders, aside from the defending champion Naomi Osaka. Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open winner, is a strong candidate, despite a recent slump in form. The 27-year-old Russian, seeded second, has not reached the quarter-finals at any Grand Slam this year. Her recent struggles include early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon. Nonetheless, Rybakina showcased her prowess at the Canadian Open, where she defeated Osaka and Coco Gauff before losing in the final.\n\nElena Rybakina (World ranking: 2)\n\nAnother promising contender is Linda Noskova, the Czech Republic's ninth-seeded player. The 21-year-old made history by winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon this year, but her recent form has been inconsistent. Noskova, ranked sixth in the world, had a first-round exit at the Canadian Open and lost in the last 16 at the Cincinnati Masters. However, she bounced back by defeating Osaka at the Canadian Open. Her ability to perform under pressure could prove crucial in her U.S. Open quest.\n\nLinda Noskova (World ranking: 6)\n\nAmerican tennis player Amanda Anisimova, the current world No. 10, is also in contention. She fell to Aryna Sabalenka in last year's U.S. Open final, but came close to a Grand Slam title with a Wimbledon semifinal appearance. Anisimova has made the Australian Open quarter-finals and reached the third round at both the French Open and Wimbledon this year. Despite her recent struggles, she remains optimistic about her chances at the U.S. Open, stating, \"I always believe in myself.\"\n\nAmanda Anisimova (World ranking: 10)\n\nMirra Andreeva, a 19-year-old Russian, is another rising star to watch. She claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open this month, displaying remarkable consistency and the ability to perform under pressure. Andreeva, the world No. 5, has reached four WTA finals in 2026, winning three of them. Her emotional speech after winning her first Grand Slam highlighted her dedication, stating, \"I want to thank myself for always believing in myself.\"\n\nMirra Andreeva (World ranking: 5)\n\nJessica Pegula, the third-ranked American, has been on a roll this year. She reached the finals of the Washington DC Open and the Cincinnati Open, but fell short against Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final last year. Pegula, who turned 32 this year, remains undeterred in her pursuit of a Grand Slam title. She said, \"I'm actually feeling pretty good... I'm glad I got through a lot of really tough matches. As far as going into a slam, you just kind of have to wipe it and move on.\"\n\nJessica Pegula (World ranking: 3)\n\nLastly, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, ranked 11th in the world, is a dark horse in the tournament. Kostyuk has shown remarkable consistency this year, reaching the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon. She won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open in April, defeating Andreeva in the final. Kostyuk's impressive U.S. Open performance last year, where she reached the fourth round, suggests she could be a serious contender once again at Flushing Meadows.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Elena Rybakina, 2023 Australian Open winner, seeks U.S. Open title despite recent slump.",
    "Linda Noskova, Czech Republic's first Grand Slam winner, shows inconsistent form.",
    "Amanda Anisimova, world No. 10, aims for third Grand Slam title after Wimbledon semifinal."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}