Who are the other women's contenders to look out for at the US Open?

Aug 27 : The following are some of the other contenders for the women's singles title at the U.S. Open, which begins on Sunday:

NAOMI OSAKA (JAPAN)

* World ranking: 13

Twice champion Osaka showed glimpses of her old self when she reached the U.S. Open semi-finals last year. Last month, the 28-year-old earned her maiden last-eight berth at Wimbledon.

But the four-times Grand Slam winner will be battling more than her opponents as she looks to win her first WTA title since the 2021 Australian Open, with injuries and fatigue issues plaguing her throughout the season.

A foot issue forced Osaka to retire during the Bad Homburg Open final in June, and she withdrew from this month's Cincinnati Open due to fatigue. But the Japanese player will hope to be rested and rejuvenated by the time she starts her campaign at Flushing Meadows.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZAKHSTAN)

* World ranking: 2

Elena Rybakina started 2026 on a high as she won the Australian Open, her second Grand Slam title after a Wimbledon triumph in 2022.

But things have since taken a downward turn for the 27-year-old, who crashed out of the French Open in the second round, and could not get beyond the third round at Wimbledon. 

Rybakina will have the odds against her at the U.S. Open, the only Grand Slam where she has not reached the quarter-finals. However, she proved up to the task at this month's Canadian Open, where she beat Osaka and Coco Gauff before losing to Iga Swiatek in the final.

LINDA NOSKOVA (CZECH REPUBLIC)

* World ranking: 6

Noskova shocked the world with a title run at Wimbledon this year, but the 21-year-old still faces a battle to prove her calibre as the doubters point to her waning form after that maiden Grand Slam success.

The Czech player, seeded ninth at