Ahead of the 2020 US Open, former world number 1, Martina Navratilova spoke about the chances of Naomi Osaka and other title contestants.

Naomi Osaka has won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open back in 2018. She defeated Serena Williams in the final and it is the American and young Japanese that will be the main title contestants this year. 18-time Grand Slam champion, Martina Navratilova wrote for WTA about the chances of the biggest title contestants.

"When Osaka hits a winner in New York City, she'll be greeted by the sound of silence, apart from perhaps a smattering of applause from her team and maybe from a tiny number of people who are accredited to be in the stadium. But I don't imagine Osaka will be that affected by the lack of a crowd," Navratilova said about Osaka. "She has shown in the past that she can shut out the New York crowd, and she also wouldn't have been feeding off the New Yorkers' energy in the same way that Serena has done most years."

"The lack of a crowd could be a negative factor for Serena, who would usually have her emotions activated by the spectators. Williams thrives on playing in New York and having the crowd on her side. This year, she'll have to do without. Even without spectators, players are still going to be psyched for the occasion, and they're still going to feel the pressure, even if it will be quite different this year."

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