The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year is here and we couldn't be more excited for it. We can't wait to watch the international female tennis superstars who are set to tear up the court at the US Open.
The Open will take place from August 29 to September 11 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The hard court tournament first began in 1881 and has seen the debut of some of the biggest names in tennis, including sport-defining legend Serena Williams — who is set to retire after playing her last US Open tournament.
From the reigning champs to teenage newcomers, here’s everything to know about the women to watch at the 2022 US Open.
Serena Williams: The G.O.A.T.
Everyone will be tuning into the Open to watch Serena Williams’ highly-anticipated final performance. The tennis legend made her debut at the 1998 US Open at age 16, making history the following year as the first Black woman to win a Slam singles title in the Open era. This year will mark her 21st — and final — time at the tournament, as she has announced her plan to retire afterwards.
Williams, a 23-time Major champion, last took home a Major trophy at the 2017 Australian Open, where she won over her sister Venus. Afterwards, she stepped back from the court to welcome a child, daughter Alexis Olympia. While she’s made it to four Majors finals since returning to tennis in 2018, she has yet to add another trophy to her Grand Slam legacy. We’ll be watching Williams for a potential final victory and of course for her signature style; the icon has pushed the boundaries of women’s fashion in tennis since she first stepped on the court, rocking everything from catsuits to tutus over the years.
Coco Gauff: The Covergirl
18-year-old Corey “Coco” Gauff shot to stardom in 2019 when the then-15-year-old newcomer defeated her childhood idol, 7-time Slam singles winner Venus Williams, in the first round at Wimbledon — Gauff’s first Grand Slam match. In the years since, Gauff has nearly broken top ten in singles, landing at world No. 11 in July 2022; she reached a career-high of No. 1 in doubles in August 2022.
Her star continues to climb on-and-off the court, with a new ESPN cover story, a major New Balance partnership and a Vogue video cataloging a day in her life as she prepared for the Atlanta Open in August.
While the teenage star is anticipated as a frontrunner at the US Open — having become the youngest woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Maria Sharapova in 2004 at the French Open earlier this summer — she is currently recovering from an ankle injury that she sustained in Cincinnati. Gauff told fans on Twitter that it’s “most likely a really minor sprain,” seemingly reassuring them she’d be back on track in time for the US Open.
Sofia Kenin: The Best Dressed
Along with Venus Williams, 23-year-old Kenin leads the list of wild card draws for the US Open this year as she continues to climb her way back to the top after being sidelined by a foot injury in March. The Russian-born American player was named 2020 WTA Player of the Year after taking home the first place trophy at the Australian Open that year and placing runner-up at the 2020 French Open. The year prior, the WTA awarded her the Most Improved Player of the Year award — and she hasn’t stopped chasing greatness since.
We can’t wait to see what she serves up on-and-off the court at the US Open. Kenin, who is an ambassador for the brand Free People Movement, often hits the court in flirty skirts and cropped tees, setting a high bar with her sporty style. Off the court, you can catch her in head-to-toe Gucci and statement accessories.
Eleana Yu: The Newcomer
17-year-old Eleana Yu earned entry into the US Open main draw after winning the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships on August 14. The fourth-seeded Ohio native beat out Washington’s No. 17 Valerie Glozman 6-3, 7-5 in the San Diego tournament, which was presided over by tennis icon Billie Jean King herself.
We’re keeping our eye on the newcomer, who made it to the US Open Junior Championships last year. “It still feels a little surreal to know that I get the opportunity to go to the US Open,” Yu told Tennis Recruiting Network. “But I am beyond grateful to have the chance to be able to do that. It’s a dream come true.”
Harmony Tan: The French Favorite
Tan made headlines earlier this summer at her first-ever Wimbledon match after a stunning victory over Serena Williams in the tournament’s opener. The 24-year-old Paris native was only hoping to win a round or two, but ultimately bested the tennis champion. She earned a career-high of No. 90 in doubles this April, and currently ranks at 111. Tan made her Majors debut at the 2018 US Open and will return to the tournament this month on a wildcard. Off the court, she shows off her style on Instagram, posting photos from her travels to Vietnam, London and beyond as well as keeping fans updated on her tennis matches.
