Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka: 5 surprise contenders to win the US Open

This year’s US Open is less than a fortnight away and excitement for the final Grand Slam of the year is building.

Emma Raducanu won last year’s tournament in remarkable fashion –– storming to victory as a qualifier without dropping a set. 

Yet the Brit has struggled for consistency so far in 2022 and has been unfortunate with injuries.

Serena Williams is also set to retire at the tournament, meaning this year’s event promises to be one to remember. 

While world number one Iga Swiatek will no doubt be the favourite for the title, Raducanu’s triumph last year is proof that there can always be some surprise contenders.

With that in mind, we’ve picked five players that could go on a run at Flushing Meadows. 

Though it’s true that Raducanu had endured a difficult year, the Brit showed signs that she is finally starting to find form at the Cincinnati Masters. 

Indeed, the teenager thrashed Wiliams and Victoria Azarenka comfortably and looked more like the player that won in such imperious fashion in New York last year. 

It will, of course, still be a huge ask for her to retain her title this year, but Flushing Meadows seems to bring out the best in the Brit and may do so again. 

It was Pegula who eventually ended Raducanu’s Cincinnati run in the last 16. 

The American’s performances have gone somewhat under the radar this year and she is currently third in the race to the WTA Finals, behind only Swiatek and Ons Jabeur. 

Pegula has never reached beyond the third round of the US Open, though she has made the quarter-finals of two majors so far this year. 

Just like 2021, this season has been a struggle for Osaka. 

The Japanese star was knocked out in the third round of the US Open, the first round at Roland-Garros and chose to