Major question marks in women's field leave door open for Gauff, Swiatek at US Open

NEW YORK, Aug 28 : Major question marks hang over the top two seeds in the women's field when the U.S. Open main draw begins on Sunday, leaving the door open for past winners Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek to bring home another trophy from Flushing Meadows.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka's dismal back half of the season has clouded her pursuit of a rare third successive U.S. Open title, while number two Elena Rybakina's exit from Cincinnati with a leg injury has cast her campaign into doubt.

It has been a different story entirely for 2023 champion Gauff, who got her once-maligned serve working for her en route to the semis in Toronto and to her first title of the year with a confidence-inspiring performance in Cincinnati.

She will benefit, too, from the rowdy New York crowd, as a perennial American fan favourite.

"Coco Gauff played exceptional tennis in Cincinnati. She played well in Canada, as well. To me she's the one that's playing the best tennis," said ESPN commentator and former world number four Mary Joe Fernandez.

Fourth-ranked Gauff and third-ranked Jessica Pegula will be playing for national pride with U.S. women failing to make the final at the first three majors this year.

A 'BUMPY' JOURNEY FOR SWIATEK

Poland's six-times major winner Swiatek arrives in New York with fresh fight in her, shaking off bitter criticism back home to win her first title of the season in Toronto earlier this month.

Swiatek has not made it past the quarter-finals at any of the year's majors and had to fight her way back to top form in time for the North American hard court swing.

"The journey has been bumpy this season," the eighth-ranked Swiatek told reporters after she swatted aside Rybakina to lift the trophy in Canada.

"Sometimes I was impatient