US Open 2021 Contenders and their Rackets (Women’s)
Looking ahead to the US Open next week, we’re taking a look at the top three contenders for the women’s singles title.
The WTA Tour is no longer the happy hunting ground of Serena Williams, things have changed lately and there’s a whole group of ‘WTA Avengers’ looking to make their mark. Here at All Things Tennis, we’re breaking down the top three contenders who are beginning to fill Serena William’s rather large shoes.
- Ash Barty – Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP (2021)
Ash Barty is the world number one, 2021 Wimbledon champion and has won five titles so far this year. There’s no doubt that she’s the best player in the world at the moment. She’s also coming into this year’s US Open brimming with confidence having just won an Olympic medal for her country and comfortably taken the title in Cincinnati. Barty’s US Open preparations couldn’t have gone smoother.
Ash plays with the Head Gravity MP which compliments her creative game well. It’s a manoeuvrable frame with great stability and control. Barty has proven she’s as versatile as they come, winning on all surfaces and in all conditions. Who would you have beating her in New York?
- Naomi Osaka – Yonex Ezone 98
Defending champion Naomi Osaka hasn’t played much tennis since she won her fourth major title in Australia earlier this year, but she’s proven that there’s not much that can stop her when she gets on a roll at a hard-court slam. If she manages to play herself into some form during the early rounds in New York, she’ll be odds on to win the title. Osaka may be out of match practise but she’s certainly well rested having taken some time away from the sport after the French Open where she opened up about her struggles with mental health.
Naomi plays with the Yonex Ezone 98 customised with many different paint jobs. The Ezone 98 is a near perfect balance of power, control and feel with many top professionals now endorsing it. See our review of the Yonex Ezone Tour 2021 here to get our in-depth analysis of the Ezone range;
- Karolina Pliskova – Babolat Pure Drive 2021
Many believe Karolina Pliskova will never win a major, she’s failed to find her best tennis at the grand slams on multiple occasions, but she seemed to turn over a new leaf at Wimbledon. She reached the final and put on an impressive display against Ash Barty in the final but was outplayed in the final set, this is a far cry from some of the complete collapses we’ve seen at previous tournaments – the Rome 2021 final being an example. After reaching another final in Toronto, Pliskova is in prime position to make a title run in New York. She’s been serving incredibly well over the past 2 months and when that part of her game is firing, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Pliskova has a powerful game and a powerful racket to match, she uses the legendary Babolat Pure Drive to help her hit through any opponent. The Pure Drive has been one of the most popular rackets on the market for many years now and there’s no shortage of pro’s who use it.
The woman’s singles event at this year’s US Open promises to be an intriguing affair as so many of the top players could feasibly win the title. However, these three players stand out from the rest as we know they can all produce a level very few can match.
Written by Aron Dochard
Check out our last blog where we discuss the top three US Open contenders on the men’s side.
