Alex Mann is back with his predictions and his Women’s US Open 2022 preview. There are also two freshly recorded podcasts covering the event.

Before we get into Alex’s thoughts about the Women’s US Open 2022 preview, I wanted to say that you can listen to a podcast I did with Dennis Timar on Spotify, iTunes and other podcasting platforms. You can also listen to it here on Tennisnerd in the embedded player. I have also uploaded a vlog on YouTube where I break down the draw. You can find that below as well.

I would very much appreciate if you watch/listen to get the content above. And all of us contributing to Tennisnerd are of course keen to hear what you readers and listeners think! Who is your pick to win the US Open 2022? Do you like this type of content? Let us know in the comments below.

Okay, word over to Alex and his predictions.

Women’s US Open 2022 Preview

The most significant talking point of this year’s US Open is the potential final tournament of the 23-time major winner Serena Williams’ career.

The 40-year-old will open up Monday’s evening session on Arthur Ashe against the world-number 80, Danka Kovinic. If she wins her first round, a second-round match with the second seed, Anett Kontaveit, could be on the cards.

Serena will also team up with her sister Venus as they have been given a wildcard into the women’s doubles tournament.

The women’s top seed, Iga Swiatek, has struggled recently since losing her 37-match unbeaten streak. Can she regain her pre-Wimbledon form in New York?

Let’s have a look at this year’s contenders for the women’s title.

Contenders

Iga Swiatek

Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak was astonishing. The Pole won 4 consecutive Masters 1000 titles and the French Open, the second major title of her career. Although her recent losses suggest she has lost some of her early season form, she is still one of the favorites for the title, given her record this year. The world number 1 reached the fourth round of last year’s tournament, losing to Belinda Bencic. Her draw is tough and she could face 2017 champion Sloane Stephens in the second round and Anisimova or Ostapaneko in the fourth round.

Check out Iga Swiatek’s racquet here. We reviewed the latest version here.

Simona Halep

Simona Halep has rediscovered some of her best tennis this year. The Romanian reached the Wimbledon semi-final and won her third Cincinnati Masters title a few weeks ago. She looks in form and has been one of the most consistent players this season. Although she has had mixed results in Flushing Meadows, she reached the semi-final stage in 2015. Halep could have a tough fourth-round match against Guaff, but if she wins that, she is arguably the favorite to reach the final from the bottom half of the draw.

Find out more about Halep’s racquet here.

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff has had the best season of her young career so far. She reached the French Open singles and doubles final and is ranked number 1 in doubles. The young American has three top 10 wins to her name in 2022 and will undoubtedly be a threat for the US Open title.

Find out more about Coco Gauff’s gear at Tennis Warehouse.

Ons Jabeur

Jabeur has struggled for match wins since reaching the Wimbledon final but has the game to beat any player. Her all-court game and ability to disrupt her opponents’ rhythm are impeccable when she’s in form. If she can rediscover her clay and grass court form, she can be a real threat.

Check out Ons Jabeur’s gear at Tennis Warehouse.

Outsiders

Amanda Anisimova

The American has been very consistent at the majors this year, reaching at least the fourth round of every major she has played since the beginning of 2022. If she is firing, it will be hard to stop her. Her big game can overwhelm opponents, and her backhand is one of the best on tour.

Check out Amanda Anisimova’s gear here (TW).

Elena Rybakina

The newly crowned Wimbledon champion will look to continue her impressive run at SW19 on the hard courts of New York. She finds herself in a challenging section of the draw, which includes Raducanu, Sabalenka, Osaka and Collins.

Discover Elena Rybakina’s gear here (TW).

Belinda Bencic

The Swiss has always played well in Flushing Meadows. In 2014, she reached her first US Open quarter-final as a 17-year-old and has since repeated this feat on two more occasions, progressing one stage further in 2019. Her ability to redirect the ball and take it on the rise is outstanding. A contender for the title.

Check out Belinda Bencic’s gear here (TW).

Caroline Garcia

Since her breakthrough in 2017, when she reached number 4 in the WTA rankings, Garcia has struggled to deliver. This year, however, she’s won titles on hard, grass, and clay and won the Cincinnati Masters last week. Could this be the year the Frenchwoman steps up at the majors?

Check out Carolina Garcia’s gear here (TW).

Jessica Pegula

The number 1 American, Jessica Pegula has been very consistent this year, reaching two major quarter-finals and a Masters 1000 final. Pegula is in a tough section of the draw, which includes major champions Kvitova, Ostapenko, Swiatek, Muguruza, and Stephens. She is arguably the most in-form player in the top half, so the home crowd will hope she can go far.

Check out Jessica Pegula’s gear here (TW).

Naomi Osaka

Unseeded at this year’s tournament, Osaka begins her campaign against the 19th seed, Danielle Collins. Naomi is a two-time US Open champion, so she knows how to play on the courts in Flushing Meadows. Osaka has played little tennis this year, but when she is at her best, very few can stop her. She is one of the best ball strikers in the world, so if she can find some momentum, she could go deep in the tournament.

What racquet does Naomi Osaka use?

Emma Raducanu

A year ago, Emma Raducanu shocked the world as she won the US Open as a qualifier. This year has been Raducunu’s first full season on the WTA tour, so she has needed time to adjust. The defending champion has an extremely tough first-round match against Alize Cornet, who broke Swiatek’s unbeaten run at Wimbledon. Who knows how far she could go if Raducanu can battle her way through her first-round match?

What racquet does Emma Raducanu use?

Daria Kasatkina

Kasatkina has been in fine form leading up to the US Open. She’s two WTA titles in the last few weeks and reached a career-high of 9. She also reached the semi-final of this year’s French Open. The bottom section of the women’s draw looks relatively open and is one of the few in-form players. She could be a threat for the title.

What racquet does Daria Kasatkina use?

Special mentions

The top ten players, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, and Paula Badosa, have lacked consistency this year but have the game to go deep in the tournament.