WEBWIRE – Saturday, August 26, 2023
The US Open in New York will start on Monday with the Porsche Friend Iga Swiatek as the title holder. Porsche Team Germanys Tatjana Maria and Anna-Lena Friedsam are both assured of a place in the main draw.
It has been a good year for Iga Swiatek. The Pole, who has headed the world rankings since 4 April 2022, has already won four tournaments this season in addition to her successes in Doha and Warsaw, she celebrated her second triumph in succession at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and claimed her third French Open title. At the US Open, where she will be defending her title, she is one of the top favourites.
For sure, its not going to be easy to successfully defend my title, said the four-time Grand Slam champion. After reaching the semifinals at the Masters 1000 tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, where Porsche Cars North America was a sponsor and the exclusive vehicle partner, she is nevertheless keeping her cards close to her chest. Like for most players, New York and with it the tournament is however something very special for her. Theres no city to match it on the Tour. It all makes the US Open so incredibly fascinating.
A look at the statistics underlines her status as the favourite for the years final Grand Slam. Since her defeat in the round of the last 16 at the Australian Open, she has reached at least the quarterfinals at every tournament she has played this season. At six of here seven hard court events, she has made it to the semifinals at the very least.
Tatjana Maria and Anna-Lena Friedsam main draw certainties
As currently Germanys top player, Tatjana Maria is a US Open main draw certainty. Thanks to a brace of WTA titles in Columbia on clay in in Bogota in April and last week on a hard court in Barranchilla she is momentarily the world No. 49. Even though she only progressed past the first round in 2012, 2017 and 2018, the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist is looking forward to the tournament. The US Open is exceptional in its very own way, said the 36-year-old mother of two who will face Croatias Petra Martic in the first round. At this weeks WTA 250 tournament in Cleveland that will last until Saturday, she has reached the semifinals where she will meet Sara Sorribes Tormo from Spain. It gives her even more self-confidence: I hope that after Barranchilla and Cleveland, I can also show my best tennis at the US Open.
As the current world No. 89, Porsche Team Germanys Anna-Lena Friedsam is also sure of a US Open main draw berth. Her opening opponent is Elina Svitolina, the former world No. 3 and winner of 17 career WTA titles. After taking time off to have a baby, the Ukrainian has returned to competition this season.
Laura Siegemund and Eva Lys still in qualifying
Two German players are still in with a chance of making it to the main draw via qualifying Porsche Team Germanys Laura Siegemund, winner of the 2017 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and winner of the womens doubles in New York in 2020, will play the final round of qualifying on Friday. The hopes of Eva Lys from the Porsche Talent Team of once again reaching the main draw of a Grand Slam after the Australian Open are also still intact. Her second round qualifying match that could not be played yesterday due to rain is scheduled for today.
As the world No. 8, Maria Sakkari, Friend of the Brand of Porsche Greece, is also in the line-up in New York. She was a semifinalist in 2021.
The last German player to win the title at the US Open was the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber in 2016.