US Open 2024: Three takeaways from women’s singles campaign ft. Aryna Sabalenka’s incredible title win
With Aryna Sabalenka clinching the 2024 US Open title, here are three big talking points from the women's singles campaign in New York.
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Aryna Sabalenka hugs the trophy after winning the 2024 US Open (Image via X/US Open)
Aryna Sabalenka came mightily close to winning her maiden US Open title last year. She had dropped just one set en route to the final, where she took the first set with ease against Coco Gauff. It all looked to be going as planned until it did not.
Gauff fought back and won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win her maiden Major and leave Sabalenka empty-handed. The Belarusian was disappointed and did not hide her emotions, but vowed to come back strong.
And she sure did, starting the season in impressive form.
Sabalenka reached the final at the Brisbane International and then defended her Australian Open title, beating Gauff in the semifinals to get some ‘revenge’. Like most players, she has suffered a dip in form and had her share of injury trouble. That did not keep her down, however.
In New York this year, the World No. 2 dropped just one set as she overcame the heartbreak from last year to lift her third Grand Slam title and her first at the US Open. Like most titles she has won in her career, this was achieved in a dominant fashion with barely a hiccup along the way. She remained cold, calculated, and focused even when she faced home favorites on Arthur Ashe, backed by a boisterous American crowd.
On that note, here are three major talking points from the women’s singles campaign at the 2024 US Open:
Naomi Osaka struggles to rediscover her mojo
Naomi Osaka returned to action earlier this year, having missed most of last year due to a maternity break. Ahead of the Australian Open, she spoke about being nostalgic as she made her comeback to the sport.
Things did not go well for her in Melbourne, where she lost in the first round to Caroline Garcia. She was far from upset with it, however, as she declared that she was playing a long game and was looking to reach her peak form by the business end of the year, and the US Open.
The season’s final Grand Slam and every other event between the Australian Open and the US Open have all been disappointing, to say the least. Unlike some players, Osaka wears her heart on her sleeves and after making a second-round exit in New York, she did not hold back her emotions.
It's a little rough because I do take these losses really personally. It's like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose.Naomi Osaka said at a press conference
The four-time Major winner acknowledged that while she felt ‘faster and better’, the results have not been noteworthy.
It's been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I'm doing by results. Like, I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it's a little rough.Naomi Osaka added
This season, along with the handful of tournaments left, can be written off, for Osaka is coming back after giving birth to her first child, which is no easy feat. However, she has to ask herself, as the tennis world has done in recent months, where she goes from here.
Another season of mediocrity and, justified or not, critics will turn on her.
Iga Swiatek falters on not-clay, again
Iga Swiatek is a five-time Grand Slam winner, a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, and the World No. 1. In the US Open quarterfinals, she faced Jessica Pegula, who had never gone past that stage at any Grand Slam in the singles on six attempts.
However, Pegula played incredible tennis to end that drought and send Swiatek home. It was her fourth career win over Swiatek, making her only the fourth player after Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Barbora Krejcikova to have four wins against the Pole.
Amidst the praise for Pegula, a familiar question reemerged: is Swiatek’s tremendous game best (or only) suited to clay?
The 23-year-old winning four titles at the French Open and only one elsewhere (2022 US Open) has given the impression that she plays to her full potential only on clay courts. That is hardly true, however.
She has won two titles on hard courts this season, the Qatar Open and Indian Wells, and also reached the United Cup final. On the red dirt, she won two WTA 1000 titles (Madrid Open and Italian Open) and Roland Garros, as well as the Olympic bronze medal.
However, a quarterfinal exit at the US Open has again had fans and a few pundits wonder if she struggles to bring her A-game outside of clay courts. Against Pegula in New York, Swiatek had just 12 winners and made a shocking 41 unforced errors.
Swiatek has also been in the news for criticizing the packed WTA Tour calendar and stating that it could be the reason why some big players, including herself, might not be able to make deep runs in some tournaments. That said, she did not help her case when she declared that she would not take an extended break after disappointment in Flushing Meadows.
Having qualified for the WTA Finals, Swiatek has a chance to end the season on a high. On the hard courts of the King Saud University Indoor Arena, Swiatek has a chance to change the misconception that she can do well on all surfaces, though another year without a Major outside Paris will hardly persuade the critics to change their minds.
Aryna Sabalenka began her year on a high and could end it on the top
Aryna Sabalenka is the only woman to win two Grand Slam titles this year. Only Carlos Alcaraz and, possibly, Jannik Sinner can claim the same. Having skipped Wimbledon due to injury, she holds an 18-1 record at the Majors this season. She is just the fifth player in the Open Era to win two singles Majors on hard courts in the same season.
Sabalenka’s success at the Grand Slams has not come by fluke. She has been dominant and almost unplayable at times. This year, she has hit the most winners (476) at the Majors.
In the US Open final, Jessica Pegula did her best to match Sabalenka. They both won 65 percent of their first serves. But the Belarusian was twice as good with the second serves, 14 for 33 compared to Pegula’s 6 for 28. She also hit 40 winners, as she battled past Pegula and the partisan American crowd to clinch the title.
Sabalenka won 18 of 23 points at the net against Pegula, which brought comparisons to WTA legend Martina Navratilova – hardly faint praise! And she is now in contention for the year-end World No. 1.
The 26-year-old took 3,000 ranking points in less than three weeks across Cincinnati and New York. The upcoming Asian swing features four WTA Tour 500 tournaments and two Masters 1000s. With 4,000 points up for grabs and Iga Swiatek showing signs of faltering, Sabalenka could finish the season on top of the WTA Rankings for the first time in her career.
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Anirudh Velamuri
(58 Articles Published)