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2026 US Open
30 August – 13 September
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens, New York
Iga Swiatek heads into the 2026 US Open as one of the leading contenders for the women's singles title, but the former world No. 1 arrives in New York with something to prove after an inconsistent season by her exceptionally high standards.
The Pole has struggled to reproduce the dominance that brought her six Grand Slam titles, including her 2022 US Open triumph. She failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at any of the first three Grand Slams of 2026, including a third-round Wimbledon defeat by Alex Eala.
There have, however, been encouraging signs heading into the North American hard-court swing. Swiatek went deep in the Canadian Open, her first WTA 1000 last-four appearance of the season. She then arrived at Cincinnati as the defending champion, giving her another important opportunity to build momentum before New York.
Hard courts remain a surface on which Swiatek has developed into an increasingly complete player. Her exceptional movement, heavy topspin and ability to dictate from the baseline make her particularly dangerous when she finds her rhythm.
But perhaps the biggest challenge is managing expectations. Swiatek has acknowledged the importance of taking pressure off herself, saying: “I don't have to play perfect tennis all the time.”
That more relaxed approach could be crucial in New York. Rather than trying to defend her past achievements, Swiatek is focused on controlling the process: “When I'm working hard, that I grow and do my job, I create a lot more chances to win, to achieve my goals and not to defend them.”
She has also admitted that lofty expectations can work against her: “And also, I feel like when I have high expectations, I never perform well. So I try to lower them.”
With Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff among the other leading contenders, Swiatek faces a formidable challenge. But if her recent hard-court form continues to improve, the 2022 champion has the game and Grand Slam experience to make another serious run at the US Open crown.
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