US Open 2022 Tips: Simona Halep can achieve third Grand Slam victory

After Emma Raducanu’s shock victory last year, the US Open women’s singles event returns with everyone expecting the unexpected - who will come out on top in such an open field?

Raducanu arrives in New York 12 months after shocking the sporting world by winning the tournament as a qualifier. The Brit’s win encapsulated the chaotic nature of the US Open and  top-level tennis in the women’s game at present. 

Indeed, it would be quite remarkable if the 2022 edition was to top last year’s event. But that doesn’t mean it won’t.

Swiatek coming off hot streak

Iga Swiatek has seen her form cool off significantly after her 37-match winning streak was ended by Alize Cornet at Wimbledon. Since then, she has gone 5-4, suggesting that her warm favouritism for the US Open is not really justified. After trophies earlier this year in Miami and Indian Wells, however, she has shown she can be successful on hard courts, while she is arguably as mentally tough as anyone in the women’s game right now.

Simona Halep, meanwhile, is coming into form. She won the Canadian Open after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals, while her only two losses since the year’s third Grand Slam have come by way of retirement and walkover. If her body holds up, she is the player to beat.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, has struggled to build on her grass court success as the WTA Tour has swung back to the US, reaching the quarters at the Cincinnati Masters after being knocked out early in Toronto.

The crowd favourites

Everyone in New York will want to see Serena Williams play well in her last major tournament, yet the American has shown in her four matches this year that she is well below the level at which she can be regarded as a threat.

Coco Gauff will receive huge backing from the home support and is set to replace Serena as the darling of the home crowd, but the World No.12 has struggled to live up to expectations in New York before. Indeed, in three previous visits, she has yet to make the second week. Her form is good enough to suggest that this run should end – she beat Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka in Toronto – but it is still too patchy to believe she can go all the way.

Similarly, Raducanu is a player who has shown flashes in recent weeks. Easy wins over Serena and Victoria Azarenka in Cincinnati will have built the Brit’s confidence, but it’s tough to overlook her 15-17 losing record this year. Things fell kindly into place for her in New York in 2021, but a 1-4 record against top 30 players since suggests this will be an altogether briefer visit.

Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, is a two-time winner but is not coming into this tournament in good shape after losing three successive matches. 

Good value at long odds

Some less fashionable names are definitely worth examining, meanwhile. Aryna Sabalenka made the semis last year and arrives after showing promising form in Toronto and Cincinnati, while Belinda Bencic, a semi-finalist in 2019, could be dangerous if she gets up a head of steam.

Perhaps the two most dangerous outsiders in the draw, though, are those who enjoyed strong form in Cincinnati recently. Madison Keys, who reached the 2017 final and then the semis the following year, reached the semis in Ohio, including wins over Rybakina and Swiatek.. The big hitter will be a huge threat if she starts to feel she has a chance of going all the way.

Similarly, Caroline Garcia is a player who can be potent when she gets on a hot streak. The former world no. 4 took out three top 10 players to win in Cincinnati, and her form since June has been strong. The US Open has never been a kind venue to her however, as she has never made the second week.

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