The 2022 U.S. Open champion will be ???

Who is likely to be the new U.S. Open champion? Most members of the tennis media, as well as serious fans, acknowledge that it's a free-for-all, and hard to predict. This is nothing new, of course, but it seems more pronounced this year, for a few reasons:

1. World number 1 Iga Swiatek is not happy with the balls used for WTA players at the U.S. Open (and throughout the U.S. Open Series). They are lighter than the balls used by ATP players, and Swiatek argues that they are too hard to control; world number 4 Paula Badosa joined Swiatek in calling for an end to the use of lighter weight balls, and--according to Swiatek--a lot of WTA players have the same complaint. (Former world number 1 Ash Barty's coach had mentioned that the lightweight balls had made it difficult for Barty to compete optimally at the U.S. Open.)

2. Naomi Osaka, who has two U.S. Open titles, hasn't had much match play lately, and isn't the strong contender that she has been in the past.

3. Top players such as Badosa, Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur haven't looked their best lately.

Cincinnati was revealing. 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu looked quite impressive, despite being defeated in the third round. Petra Kvitova was playing at 2011 grass court level until she got to the final, during which she sustained a leg injury and couldn't move too well (she was also up against an absolutely on-fire Caroline Garcia). Champion Caroline Garcia was superb throughout the tournament, surpassing even her former high level of play.

No one wants Kvitova to do well at the U.S. Open more than I do, but--not only do we not know the extent of the leg injury--Flushing Meadows has never been a place where the Czech star has felt comfortable. The heat and humidity don't agree with her respiratory system, though--it should be noted--I live in Louisiana and I find the Cincinnati heat and humidity almost unbearable. Go figure. Could we get another surprise champion? Absolutely. It's also possible that Swiatek, Jabeur or Sakkari could rise to the occasion, and both Garcia and Jessie Pegula have to be considered serious contenders.

Of course, this year's event will have another focal point--it will be the final U.S. Open, and the final tournament, for six-time champion Serena Williams, who is retiring from professional tennis. Williams won the U.S. Open twice in doubles, and once in mixed doubles.