"She's probably the best hardcourt player out there" - Thiem backs Osaka to win US Open

Although he will be missing the 2021 US Open due to injury, defending champion Dominic Thiem believes that Naomi Osaka is the favorite to lift the ladies singles title at Flushing Meadows.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020. Thiem believes that the Japanese superstar has what it takes to turn her season around, and win her fifth Grand Slam title.

"I think she can do it, I mean she’s a big, big champion,” Thiem said. “She won the US Open once where there was so much noise, when there was a full crowd again. And she won it last year when there were almost zero people in the stadium. So she knows how to do both. And definitely, she can do it again.”

With four of the last six hardcourt Grand Slam titles under her belt, Thiem considers Osaka the best hardcourt player in women's tennis. The Austrian also picked World No.1 Ashleigh Barty as a title contender, considering the Australian's superb form this season.

“I mean, she’s probably the best hardcourt player out there," said Thiem. "So besides Barty, she’s the big, big favorite.”