The last three U.S. Open women’s champions earned the top three seeds for this year’s tournament in New York, it was announced Thursday.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is the top seed, 2022 champ Iga Swiatek of Poland is the No. 2 seed, and 2023 title winner Coco Gauff is No. 3 in an American-heavy draw.
Gauff is one of five Americans with top-10 seeds. The others are 2024 finalist Jessica Pegula (No. 4), Australian Open champion Madison Keys (No. 6), Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova (No. 8), and Emma Navarro (No. 10).
Pegula is in the same half of the draw as Sabalenka, so a potential rematch could come in the semifinals.
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva is the No. 5 seed. Also among the top 10 are Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (No. 7) and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (No. 9).
Play begins Sunday at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
Sabalenka opens play against Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova and Swiatek begins with Emiliana Arango of Colombia. Gauff will face Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who famously defeated Serena Williams in the first round in 2022 in the legend’s final singles match.
Venus Williams, who received a wild card into the event, faces a tough task. The 45-year-old landed No. 11 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the first round. Muchova reached the semifinals in each of the past two U.S. Opens.
–Field Level Media
