Coco Gauff lifted her first Grand Slam singles title at last year's US Open. Could another name have a coronation in 2024?
Sure, the leading lights of the WTA tour, such as world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, take up most of the prediction picks.
But away from the top seeds, it's time to muse over some other players who are more than capable of Grand Slam success stateside.
Naomi Osaka
Looking for someone who can handle the spotlight that comes with the Grand Slam gauntlet? Look no further than Naomi Osaka. The former world No. 1, back in the fold following her 2023 maternity leave, was crowned US Open champion back in 2018 and 2020.
These days, it's a question of when, not if, Osaka can recapture her tour-leading artillery. It's been a rebuilding process and the signs have been very promising. Take Roland Garros, where the four-time major winner took eventual champion Swiatek all the way: forcing the Pole to save match point in a 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 modern-day classic.
The level is there, but can Osaka stitch it together for seven rounds once again this fortnight? Stay tuned.
Tournament outlook: Osaka's first-round foe is former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. That match is in a stacked second quarter of the draw (in the top half), which also features 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, 2023 semifinalist Karolina Muchova, and No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini.
Amanda Anisimova
Back in the limelight after a mental-health hiatus last season, Amanda Anisimova is refreshed and going about business at her own pace. This summer, the 22-year-old has seamlessly slotted back into the elite tennis with her ferocious firepower racking up results.
Last time out Anisimova, ranked as high as No. 21 in 2019, built on a Washington quarterfinal with a runner-up finish to Jessica Pegula at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto earlier this month.
A quartet wins over Top 10 seeds Daria Kasatkina, Anna Kalinskaya, Sabalenka and Emma Navarro demonstrated this free-hitting youngster is well and truly a dark horse for any title.
Tournament outlook: Anisimovai is part of one of the marquee first-round matches of the women's draw as she drew Olympic gold medalist and No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen in the first round. The winner looks a likely favorite for a quarterfinal clash with Sabalenka.
Marta Kostyuk
The gregarious Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk appears to personify tenacity, never shying away from any challenge or deficit.
On a big stage is where a personality like Kostyuk belongs, and the electric New York crowd will certainly feed off the world No. 19's shot-making and remarkable retrieval skills.
Still just 22 years of age, the bright lights of Flushing Meadows seem like a fitting setting for Kostyuk to break out beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal, which she first achieved earlier this year in Australia.
Tournament outlook: Seeded No. 19, Kostyuk faces American wild card McCartney Kessler in Round 1. Kostyuk lost to Gauff in a marathon Melbourne quarterfinal, and the two could face again here in Round 4. A round before that, the Ukrainian is slotted with No. 13 seed Emma Navarro.
Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa is another supreme talent battling back from injuries and undulating form. The former world No. 2 from just two years ago has never quite found her formula in New York–the city where she was born!
Badosa's renaissance was well and truly announced with a trophy lift in Washington at the start of August. Ranked as low as No. 140 in the spring, the win put Badosa back amongst the Top 32 seeds here.
Tournament outlook: Badosa is just 2-4 in the main draw all-time, and opens against tricky Swiss Viktorija Golubic and her one-handed backhand.
Emma Navarro
Just like on the men's side, Americans are pushing towards the upper echelons in numbers. Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins present a formidable leading triumvirate, with Navarro just behind.
It's all clicking in 2024 with a first title (Hobart) and plenty of head-turning results. Just look at the 'big' stages: an Indian Wells Elite 8 spot, the Roland Garros Round of 16, a Wimbledon quarterfinal, and a recent semifinal in Toronto.
It all comes across as simple, all in her stride. The rock-solid former collegiate tennis star has the perfect temperament for major duels. Completely chill in on-court persona, there is nothing chill about her tennis.
Tournament outlook: Having already touched on Navarro's draw, she's also in search of a New York milestone. She's yet to win a main-draw match at the tournament in her fledgling career.
Diana Shnaider
Talk about raw power: 20-year-old Diana Shnaider packs plenty of punch. Like Navarro, Shnaider is another talent molded within college tennis while making waves on the WTA tour. Simply put: The world No. 18 is fearless within the confines of a tennis court.
42-16 this season proves Shnaider is on the up and fast. She's won three titles this year, on three surfaces, and in Toronto, trounced Gauff by losing just five games on her way to the semifinals.
An extra tangent here is the youngster is coached by Igor Andreev, who reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows in 2008.
Tournament outlook: Seeded for the first time as a major, Shnaider faces former Roland Garros semifinalist Nadia Podoroska in her US Open main-draw debut. A third-round against Collins could be a great one, as would a possible fourth-round rematch with Pegula, who beat her in Canada.
Taylor Townsend
A dual-discipline expert across doubles and singles, home hope Taylor Townsend is an intriguing prospect. The left-hander collected a first Grand Slam title in the women's doubles at Wimbledon, which has provided her an endless supply of the feel-good factor.
In terms of singles play, the Chicago native's finest US Open to date came in 2019 with a third-set tiebreak cracker against No. 4 seed Simona Halep (including 105 ventures to the net) being the true highlight.
This summer, the 28-year-old has been flourishing. Over in Washington, alongside taking doubles glory, Townsend was only denied in singles by eventual finalist Marie Bouzkova. Over to Toronto, Townsend qualified and scored a victory over No. 4 seed Ostapenko en route to the quarterfinals. Up next Cincinnati, the American defeated No.9 seed Kasatkina within a qualifying-to-Round of 16 adventure.
Watch out NYC, Townsend is in town.
Tournament outlook: Townsend has an all-lefty match against Italian Martina Trevisan first up, with a possible Round 2 against Badosa. No. 8 seed and Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova is the Round 3 foe in the third quarter in the draw's bottom half.
