Andy Roddick picks his ‘significant’ US Open title contender among Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff
Andy Roddick picked Aryna Sabalenka over Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek as his favorite to win the 2024 US Open.
Andy Roddick picks US Open favorite (images via Getty)
Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick has picked Aryna Sabalenka as his favorite to win the 2024 US Open women’s singles title. Despite defending champ Coco Gauff displaying stellar form and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek leading everyone in the race to the WTA Finals, the veteran placed his bet on the Cincinnati Open champion to go two in a row.
Roddick had favored Sabalenka to win Wimbledon just hours before the Belarusian announced she wouldn’t be playing in the grass Slam. However, he doubled down on this pick and expects to see the reigning Australian Open champion win the third Grand Slam of her career in New York. He believes the extended break that Sabalenka gave herself by skipping Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics will play in her favor.
I think Aryna Sabalenka is the favorite on this surface. I picked her at Wimbledon, and then as soon as I talked about it, she pulled out three hours later. I don’t think it was coincidental that the two who really played well in Cincinnati – Sabalenka and [Jannik] Sinner – were the two who didn’t play the Olympics and had that extra week of focus and preparation. I think she’s a significant favorite.”Andy Roddick told Betway
Sabalenka made quick work of her opponents in the first two rounds while Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are cruising through their draws as well. Gauff dropped just six games in her first two matches and secured two bagel sets, one in each round.
On Friday, August 30, Sabalenka will take on Ekaterina Alexandrova, who battled past Iva Jovic, the youngest American to make it to the second round of the US Open in 24 years. Gauff faces a tough challenge in Elina Svitolina in the third round while Swiatek takes on Ena Shibahara in the second round.
Aryna Sabalenka brightens a little fan’s day with a wholesome gesture
After her second-round triumph against Lucia Bromzetti, bubbly Aryna Sabalenka interacted with a young fan who had dressed exactly like the Belarusian — tattoo and all. Sabalenka said that she saw the young fan on one of the display screens during the match and was eager to meet her after the match.
The superfan, clad in a bright pink dress just like her idol, was also sporting a temporary version of the iconic tiger tattoo that Sabalenka has on her arm. The two posed for a photo with their arms out.
The fan also handed a stuffed tiger doll to the World No. 2 as she has often attributed her aggressive style of play to the big cat. Sabalenka then signed a giant pink tennis ball that the young fan took home as a souvenir to remember the once-in-a-lifetime interaction.
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