Coco Gauff ‘feeling the pressure’, says former world No 7 as she names favourites and possible surprise winners
Coco Gauff is not among the favourites to win this year’s US Open with Barbara Schett saying she is “the one struggling the most right now” in terms of the big-name players in the women’s draw.
Just over a year ago Gauff was the form player in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the year as she won the Citi DC Open in Washington and the Cincinnati Open. Those hard-court runs propelled her to her first major title as she went all the way at Flushing Meadows.
But the US Open defending champion’s results could not be more contrasting this year as she missed the Washington event as she was competing at the Paris Olympics. However, she lost early at Roland Garros and followed it up with nightmare runs in Canada and Cincinnati.
She will start her campaign with a 1-2 record on hard courts in recent weeks and former world No 7 Schett doesn’t feel she is among the favourites to win this year’s title.
Instead, the Austrian feels world No 1 Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are the women to beat.
“On the women’s side, you have to go with Iga Swiątek. She’s the absolute number one at the moment, even though she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the semis in Cincinnati. Then, of course, I would definitely go with Sabalenka as well,” she told Eurosport.
“Probably the one struggling the most right now is Coco Gauff. She hasn’t been performing well this year, especially in the last couple of weeks. I think she’s feeling the pressure.
“And then you can never rule out someone like Elena Rybakina. You never know how she’s feeling, as she often has health issues, particularly with her immune system. But those three are my favourites.”
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There have been five different US Open winners in the past five years while Serena Williams in 2014 the last player to successfully defend the title in New York.
Schett wouldn’t be surprised if there is another new winner in 2024.
“It’s always really exciting. In the last 10 years, I think we’ve had five different winners at the US Open,” she said. “Who knows, maybe Jasmine Paolini will make another run. Perhaps a third Grand Slam final for her?
“Who knows, maybe Mirra Andreeva will have a breakthrough, or perhaps Danielle Collins, in what could be her last US Open campaign, will go all the way. I think that’s what makes it so exciting on the women’s side—there are so many possibilities.
“One thing is for sure, it’s going to be very, very exciting on the women’s side and on the men’s side as well.”
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