Now, at the age of 41, Williams’ career comes full circle as her final match will be played at the site of her first of her 23 singles Grand Slam wins, the 1999 US Open. Then, just a teenager, Williams stormed onto the stage to stun world No. 1 Martina Hingis in the final, laying the first step on her path to two decades of dominance.
“I hope she has a fantastic US Open and the best way to say goodbye is to walk away with the win. So [I’m] hoping she makes it.”
While she may not achieve a dream final by winning the title at Flushing Meadows, Williams’ 23 Grand Slam singles titles will be the most of any player in the Open Era, missing just one of Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Williams’ greatness isn’t just limited to singles, he has won every doubles Grand Slam title at least twice and has won two out of four mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. She has also racked up more than $94 million in career earnings on the court.
Few tennis players have transcended the sport like Williams and her presence will no doubt be missed on tour.
However, that was one of just 12 wins Raducanu has picked up in a season marred by injuries and patchy form. However, she has shown flashes of the player who triumphed at Flushing Meadows last year, particularly in the recent demolition of two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka in Cincinnati.
Two thousand of the 2,756 ranking points Raducanu currently has at No. 11 in the world – and even No. 10 in June – came from her win at the US Open and if she doesn’t come close to defending her crown, the 19-year-old is getting old crashes the WTA world rankings.
Raducanu’s run in Cincinnati was ended by world No. 8 Jessica Pegula, but it was a hard-fought battle to end a week that will likely give Raducanu more confidence heading into the US Open.
Among the stars hoping to snag Raducanu’s New York crown is Poland’s world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has won a remarkable six singles titles in 2022.
The two-time French Open winner goes into the tournament as the bookmakers’ favourite, but has only reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows and has been struggling for form on hard courts in the run-up to the US Open.
However, Swiatek reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier in the year and won three consecutive WTA 1000 hard-court events earlier in the season, so she undoubtedly has the ability to go all the way in New York.
Rafael Nadal is aiming for 23rd place
The men’s draw will see all eyes on Rafael Nadal, who is looking to add to his record 22 men’s Grand Slam titles.
“The most important thing for me is to stay healthy,” Nadal told reporters after the defeat. “It was a difficult injury to deal with to be honest.
“The last month and a half hasn’t been easy because with a ruptured stomach you don’t know when you’re 100 percent over it, so that concerns me a bit in terms of not (being sure you’re able giving your best on every serve.”
But New York has been a happy hunting ground for Nadal over the years as the Spaniard won the title four times, most recently in 2019 when he overcame an epic five-set match against Daniil Medvedev.
Russia’s Medvedev, who has competed under a neutral flag since invading his country in Ukraine, is the bookmakers’ favorite to lift the trophy and retain the crown he won in 2021 to claim his maiden Grand Slam – to mark victory.
The 26-year-old’s only title of 2022 came on hard-court in Mexico earlier this month, but Medvedev reached the final of the Australian Open earlier in the year and lost in agony after holding a two-set lead over Nadal.
Alexander Zverev, who would have been among the favorites to win, confirmed earlier this week that he is withdrawing from the US Open after failing to recover from injury in time.
The world No. 2 underwent surgery back in June for a torn ligament in his ankle, which he sustained after a clumsy landing in the French Open semi-final against Nadal.
Zverev’s absence from the draw shifts all players ranked below him by one seed, meaning Nadal and Medvedev can only face off in the final.
Novak Djokovic confirmed Thursday that he will not compete at Flushing Meadows in 2022. United States vaccination requirements for non-US citizens meant the Serb would not have been granted a visa to enter the country, so Nole will wait at least one more year before returning to the Big Apple.
The world No. 6 triumphed at Wimbledon earlier this year to win his 21st Grand Slam title and move within one of long-time rivals Nadal, but failed to compete in any of the tour’s US Open warm-up events in the United States or Canada participate .
The US Open will be the second Grand Slam this year that Djokovic will miss due to his unvaccinated status after having his visa revoked twice ahead of the Australian Open in January.
“Good luck to my teammates! I will stay in good shape and positive mood and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon, tennis world!”
With a wide-open field, the men’s draw will be fascinating to watch – will it be Nadal to tie Serena with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, or will another rise to rule in New York?