Players To Watch At This Year's Tennis U.S. Open!

2024 has become a massive year for sports. From March Madness to the Olympics, let's remember the tournament that social media held in a chokehold last year: the Tennis U.S. Open. With Wimbleton coming to a close, let’s look at some of the favorites from previous years who will return to Queens in August!

1. CoCo Gauff

At just 20 years old, CoCo Gauff, the 2023 US Open Women’s Champion, is a force to be reckoned with. Ranked #2 globally, she is a powerhouse on the court. Her victory last year has catapulted her into the spotlight, earning her several endorsements. Her versatility in Doubles and Singles and her recent quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon has cemented her as a fan favorite. Her performance this Summer is not to be missed.

2. Iga Świątek

Iga Świątek is a Polish player and the world's best women’s tennis player. At 23 years old, she scored 11,585 points throughout her professional career, nearly 4,000 points ahead of CoCo Gauff. She is described as an aggressive but still strategic player. Along with her impressive winning streak, Iga advocates for mental health, donating all her prize money from the Ostrava Open 2022, totaling $58,032. She recently competed in Women’s Singles at Wimbledon and made it to the third round.

3. Barbora Krejcikova

Barbora Krejcikova is a professional tennis Player for the Czech Republic and is currently ranked #10 globally. While she didn’t make it past the first round of the U.S. Open last year, she recently won her first Wimbledon Grand Slam last month. With her extensive experience playing doubles, she is very adaptable and has developed great strategies to score points. This 28-year-old has proved she is a force to be reckoned with this Summer in Queens.

4. Ben Shelton

Ben Shelton is an American tennis player from Atlanta, Georgia, ranked #14 globally. After going professional in just 2022 after playing tennis for the Florida Gators, Shelton’s rise to fame is nothing short of impressive. During last year's U.S. Open, he took the world by storm with his Iconic dialed-in celebration. He is always a must-watch for any tournament when standing out from other players due to his left-handed play and incredible serves, which reach about 130 to 140 miles per hour on average. Whether you know him for his aggressive playing style or charm at the U.S. Open, he ensures every match he plays is worth watching.

5. Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz is a Spanish tennis player, currently ranked as 3rd best men’s player in the world. At just 21 years old, Alcaraz recently won the Grand Slam at Wimbleton, beating Novak Djokovic. At last year’s U.S. Open, the two were expected to go head-to-head in the finals, but Alcaraz lost his semi-final match with Daniil Medvedev. Compared to tennis players like Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz is well-known for his aggressive baseline play and incredible speed and agility on the court. He was a fan favorite at last year’s U.S. Open and will likely be one this year.

6. Novak Djokovic

Djokovic currently holds the #2 spot in the rankings for the best tennis players in the world. He is a Serbian tennis player who has been competing professionally since 2003. Winning about $182 million over his over 20-year-long professional career, Djokovic is always a player to watch. Djokovic is not only considered one of the best players of all time but also versatile on all surfaces, making him a significant threat to players who don’t do as well on surfaces like grass or clay. He won the Grand Slam at the 2023 U.S. Open and made his presence known to people who didn’t even watch tennis.

The 2024 U.S. Open of Tennis kicks off on August 26 and runs through September 8!