Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka: who will be world no. 1 after the #USOpen? 👇
Jimmy Connors has predicted that the women's singles US Open final will be a battle between the two top seeds Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek and Sabalenka have been on form this season, with both women securing one of the three Grand Slam titles that have been played so far this year.
World No. 2 Sabalenka won her first major title at the Australian Open in January, while Swiatek secured a fourth Slam victory at this year's Roland Garros. The world No. 1 is also the defending US Open champion, and has two other titles from the French Open.
Speaking on his Advantage Connors podcast, the tennis legend explained some of the challenges that the players could face during the New York major.
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"Things happen in Grand Slams! You know the, nerves take over and feelings take over and your game… a lot of things can happen you know. So you’ve got to be able to take advantage of the good things and fight through the tough parts. You might have an easy draw to the Round of 16 but then it gets tough. You’ve got to be able to beat that too," he said.
The 70-year-old also spoke of how Swiatek's recent defeat in the semi-final of the Cincinnati Open, where she lost to Coco Gauff for the first time in her career, could motivate her at Flushing Meadows.
"But it’s going to be fun to watch the women because you know Iga… she lost the last tournament right in the semis to Coco. She is not going to like that," he continued.
Connors' co-host Brett Connors then asked the eight-time Grand Slam champion who he thinks will make the final of the 2023 US Open, to which he replied:
"Saby [Sabalenka] and Iga [Swiatek]."
Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka: who will be world no. 1 after the #USOpen? 👇