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Ten Outsiders Ready To Challenge For US Open Title
4 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
After Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, smoking through ten matches all in straight sets, tennis observers now must always be on alert for the next potential Emma who could shock the world with a Raducanuesque against all odds triumph.
Marta Kostyuk won her first title this year in Austin and recently scored two very valuable wins in Washington DC, besting Bianca Andreescu in three sets and Caroline Garcia 63 62. WTA no. 37 Kostyuk has drawn Elena Rybakina in the first round but if she can navigate her way through that challenge she could go on a roll.
Taylor Fritz is no. 9 in the world but he has floundered in his last four Grand Slams, losing in the first week to players he expected to week. Expect the American to be extra motivated to prove his last four Grand Slam flops are not going to happen again and he can once again find the form to force Novak Djokovic to the five set limit.
Sebastian Korda has been very quiet all year long but the lethal American has shown flashes of Grand Slam brilliance. Korda has been a non-factor all year. This week in Winston-Salem he has reached the semis and he’s fresh and inspired to re-establish himself as an elite player, not a second-or-third-tier, middle-of-the-packer.
Danielle Collins has played a Grand Slam final but this year her ranking has dropped to the 50s range. She’s winning a lot of matches lately and could get hot in New York. First round she has a test though – the teenager from Czech Linda Fruhvirtova.
Christopher Eubanks made his big breakout at Wimbledon, just one set away from the semifinals, before being thwarted by Daniil Medvedev in five sets. Now the former Georgia Tech player knows he can get the job done in the biggest tournaments. Such success has a flipside though – now he also has to deal with the new pressure of having to prove what happened in July was not a fluke. Eubanks has the weapons to hurt anybody though and you have to think his best tennis is yet to be played. It’s perfectly imaginable that Eubanks, who plays Soonwoo Kwon first round, could explode again in New York.
Daniel Evans just won his biggest title in Washington DC and who knows what that title did for his competitive appetite and confidence. Maybe Evans can summon his inner Emma, or even call and ask her for some US Open victory tips. Evans opens in New York against Daniel Elahi Galan.
Hubert Hurkacz, the 17 seed, has shown this summer he can go toe-to-toe with Novak and Carlos and if that big serve keeps hitting the spots, the Polish powerhouse is capable of sending anybody home. Hubi will meet Marc-Andrea Huesler first round.
Clervie Ngounoue is still largely unknown outside the hardcore tennis observers but she just won junior Wimbledon and US hard court national 18s and the 17 year old has been a highly touted American prospect since she was twelve. The talented girl from DC has an all court game and explosive power. She plays Daria Saville first round and could get world no. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second.
Russian phenom Mirra Andreeva is on the cusp of stardom after her dazzling displays this year. The 16 year old already ranked no. 67 is going to be a danger to anyone in the women’s draw.
Qinwen Zhang has added new coach Wim Fisette to her team. Could he be the missing link to catapult the heavily promoted Chinese phenom to elite status? Zhang has been inconsistent, like most of the WTA players, and she is overdue for a Li Na like rampage.
Clervie Ngounoue · Danielle Collins · marta kostyuk · Mirra Andreeva · Sebastian Korda · Taylor Fritz · US Open
catherine · August 25, 2023 at 9:24 am
Tim Henman has been giving Andy Murray advice and he’s obviously clearing the way for his own appointment as Raducanu’s new coach:
“In 12 months’ time, for argument sake, if Raducanu is not out in tournament play and winning matches I don’t think it will be because she hasn’t got the necessary tennis level. It’s more about the physical resilience.
“In my opinion her tennis ability is so outstanding – that will always be there. The challenge for her is to build up this physical resilience. She’s had a difficult time. And that’s where I think the surgeries could be a blessing in disguise – that it gives her the opportunity to put in the real hard yards to build up that physical resilience.’
Unfortunately Leylah Fernandez is struggling – Tatiana Maria beat her in Cleveland. Maybe a coaching change ? Observers said she had problems with Maria’s slice and lobs. And her serve is too erratic for a real weapon.
Scoop Malinowski · August 25, 2023 at 10:38 am
They keep playing up the narrative that Emma has failed since the US Open because her body failed, not her game or mental failures to deal with the pressure and expectations to win. They don’t mention all the sponsor pressure, media interference or all the wta players being extra motivated to put little miss britches in her place. At some point it will come down to can she win again? But they can always spin it around and just keep parroting the narrative that her body kept breaking down, wrist, foot, ankle, knee, whatever. Emma never really lost because of her mind or game, it was her body – or “physical resilience” that failed her. Similar to the Nadal approach. Excuse making and spinning defeats is a very sophisticated skillset in pro tennis. “Players fabricate injures to protect their ego.” – Former ATP champion.
catherine · August 26, 2023 at 2:38 am
A clip from the upcoming interview Simona Halep did with Eurosport where she thanks her fans and says she hopes to be back on court someday.
(Scoop, as you noted before Simona doesn’t sound mad with frustration and anger – she sounds as if it’s no big deal. Bizarre.)
“The fact that they were always by my side and they supported me in such a nice way. I read all their messages, (I felt) their warmth, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart and to assure them I’m innocent, that I didn’t take anything, I didn’t do anything dishonest in tennis and I hope the day will come when I will be back on the tennis court and I will play the tennis that I always played, with love and passion, so we can enjoy together more results…if I will still be capable of making them.”
Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2023 at 8:36 am
Saying she’s innocent (they all do) however not demanding an end to this alleged injustice. A curious situation. Why wouldn’t she be capable of making more good results on court?