Defending champion Coco Gauff might encounter a tougher challenge in her bid to retain her US Open title this year. The American tennis star is projected to be seeded third when the Grand Slam tournament begins on August 26, 2024.
Gauff’s recent unexpected defeat at the Cincinnati Open has altered her ranking. She was knocked out in the second round by Yulia Putintseva, which was a significant upset considering Gauff was the defending champion at this WTA 1000 event. As a result, she will forfeit a considerable number of ranking points on the WTA leaderboard just before the US Open.
Swiatek Remains at the Top, Sabalenka Climbs to Second
Polish sensation Iga Swiatek is set to maintain her World No. 1 position as the US Open approaches. Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will advance to second place following Gauff’s early exit in Cincinnati. Gauff will drop to third place, with Elena Rybakina currently holding the fourth spot. However, Rybakina’s position is at risk if Italy’s breakout star Jasmine Paolini clinches the Cincinnati title.
Gauff, along with her compatriot Jessica Pegula, leads a strong contingent of five American women in the top 32 of the live rankings. Danielle Collins (11), Emma Navarro (13), and Madison Keys (14) are all guaranteed seeds for their home Grand Slam. The final seedings for the US Open will be determined based on the rankings as of August 19, 2024.
WTA Top 32 Seeds as of August 16, 2024
1. Iga Swiatek – Poland
2. Aryna Sabalenka
3. Coco Gauff – United States
4. Elena Rybakina – Kazakhstan
5. Jasmine Paolini – Italy
6. Jessica Pegula – United States
7. Zheng Qinwen – China
8. Maria Sakkari – Greece
9. Barbora Krejcikova – Czech Republic
10. Danielle Collins – United States
11. Jelena Ostapenko – Latvia
12. Daria Kasatkina
13. Emma Navarro – United States
14. Madison Keys – United States
15. Anna Kalinskaya
16. Ons Jabeur – Tunisia
17. Liudmila Samsonova
18. Daria Shnaider
19. Marta Kostyuk – Ukraine
20. Victoria Azarenka
21. Marketa Vondrousova – Czech Republic
22. Beatriz Haddad Maia – Brazil
23. Mirra Andreeva
24. Donna Vekic – Croatia
25. Leylah Fernandez – Canada
26. Caroline Garcia – France
27. Ekaterina Alexandrova
28. Elina Svitolina – Ukraine
29. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
30. Yulia Putintseva – Kazakhstan
31. Katie Boulter – Great Britain
32. Elise Mertens – Belgium
Notable Players Just Outside the Top 32
33. Dayana Yastremska – Lost in Cincinnati R64
34. Paula Badosa – Cincinnati R16
35. Linda Noskova – Lost in Cincinnati R64
45. Magdalena Frech – Cincinnati R32
46. Taylor Townsend – Cincinnati R16
52. Elina Avanesyan – Cincinnati R16
53. Karolina Muchova – Cincinnati R32
