Best of the rest: Another surprise in store in US Open women's draw?

With eight different women having lifted the U.S. Open trophy in the last nine years, the crowds at Flushing Meadows are well-accustomed to seeing pre-tournament favourites fail to deliver.

If the likes of defending champion Iga Swiatek, world number two Aryna Sabalenka and in-form American Coco Gauff falter in this year's tournament, there are a handful of contenders ready to swoop in - chief among whom may be Elena Rybakina.

While her greatest success has come on grass, 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina's style can be devastating on hard courts, as she showed in some key clashes with major rivals on the surface this year.

The 24-year-old beat Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final and got the better of Swiatek in straight sets at both the Australian Open and Indian Wells.

However, Rybakina has had her momentum disrupted by an injury, which forced her to pull out of the Cincinnati Masters, meaning doubts over her fitness will hang over the fourth-ranked Kazakh when she begins her U.S. Open campaign next week.

Maria Sakkari marked her 100th consecutive week in the top 10 of the women's rankings earlier this month, but for all the Greek's success in recent years, a Grand Slam title has eluded her.

Sakkari, who fell to Gauff in the Washington final this month, will continue her quest for a first major trophy at the U.S. Open, where she reached the semi-final in 2021.

"Starting the U.S. swing with a final and playing good tennis, it's actually one of the few times I have done it, Sakkari told reporters after her defeat to Gauff. "So I believe it's going to help me, but no one knows for sure."

Caroline Garcia will be hoping to improve on her run to the semi-final at last year's U.S. Open, though the Frenchwoman's preparations have