U.S. Open: Top women to watch
Iga Swiatek of Poland, reacts during her game against Jessica Pegula of the United States, during the semifinals of the National Bank Open on Aug. 12 in Montreal. Credit: AP/Christinne Muschi
IGA SWIATEK
Swiatek will attempt to defend a major title somewhere other than at the French Open for the first time. She won last year's U.S. Open after fretting about the balls used there; now those have been switched so the women use the same equipment as the men in New York.
ARYNA SABALENKA
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts during her match against Petra Martic, of Croatia, during the National Bank Open on Aug. 9 in Montreal. Credit: AP/Christinne Muschi
Sabalenka credited an improved serve — she worked with a biomechanics expert — and improved outlook for her initial major title at Australia in January. She reached at least the semifinals at the past four majors.
JESSICA PEGULA
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women's final of the National Bank Open in Montreal on Aug. 13. Credit: AP/Christinne Muschi
Pegula is 0-6 in major quarterfinals after losing to champion Marketa Vondrousova at Wimbledon. Pegula beat Swiatek a day after Tommy Paul beat Carlos Alcaraz this month, the first time since 2008 that players from the U.S. defeated the No. 1 woman and man in the same week.
ELENA RYBAKINA
Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, reacts during her game against Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, during the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal on Aug. 13. Credit: AP/Christinne Muschi
ONS JABEUR
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur returns to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in a women's singles match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on July 12. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Jabeur has reached the final at three of the past five major tournaments (she’s 0-3 in those finals). She is the first woman from North Africa and first Arab woman in a Slam final.
RECENT GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS
Aryna Sabalenka def. Elena Rybakina, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Iga Swiatek def. Karolina Muchova. 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Marketa Vondrousova def. Ons Jabeur, 6-4, 6-4
Iga Swiatek def. Ons Jabeur, 6-2, 7-6
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