Can the Brits retain their titles?

All eyes will be on the Brits this year, having clinched four titles at last year’s US Open. None more so than world No.11 Emma Raducanu, who became the first qualifier in history and first British woman for 44 years to win a Grand Slam trophy when she beat Leylah Fernandez in last year’s women’s singles final. Coming off the back of her first full year on tour the LTA Youth ambassador has continued to make waves this year, including strong performances in Stuttgart, Madrid and Cincinnati and will thrive off her return to Flushing Meadows this year.

World No.1 Joe Salisbury claimed his second men’s and mixed doubles titles at the US Open last year – going unbeaten across both draws. Salisbury and Rajeev Ram have been two of the star performers on the doubles tour since teaming up in 2019 and the British American duo come into the tournament in impressive form, having won the Masters title at the Western & Southern Open.

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have been the dominant force in wheelchair doubles in recent years – winning 10 consecutive Grand Slam trophies together. However, their flawless run came to an end at Wimbledon this year, so the British pair will be looking to get back to winning ways in New York.

Williams’ final goodbye?

After making her long-awaited return to the game at the Rothesay International Eastbourne and Wimbledon this year, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams recently announced that she plans to retire following the US Open. A legend on the court and a true icon off it, it’s safe to say that Williams has changed the game forever and coming into her last ever Slam she’ll have a send off to remember. It’s fitting that her last event will take place at her home major, where she’s lifted the title six times in her career.

The question on everyone’s lips – can she make one last run at a Grand Slam trophy? Well, the good news is, the WTA Tour has never been more open. Since the start of 2020 there have been seven different major winners, with Williams dreaming of becoming an eighth in what would be, one of her greatest achievements.

Nadal looks to extend his lead in the GOAT race

One of the biggest stories in any Grand Slam at the moment is the race for the most major titles between tennis’s ‘big three’ – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. With Federer and Djokovic both out of this year’s tournament, 22-time Slam champion Nadal has the opportunity to extend his lead at the top.

The Spaniard has won the title four times in his career – his last victory coming in 2019 where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller. He’ll likely have to get past Medvedev once again this year, who comes in as the favourite and reigning champion.

New kids on the block

From tennis’s most experienced and decorated stars to the next generation coming to the forefront of the game – our sport is blessed with an exciting wave of young talent coming through at the moment.

In the women’s game, world No.1 Iga Swiatek has been a revelation. The 21-year-old has already won 50 matches this season – including a run of 37 consecutive victories – and lifted the French Open title for a second time in May. She’s joined by a host of young exciting players in the women’s draw, such as Raducanu, America’s Coco Gauff and US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez – all of whom are under the age of 20.

On the men’s side, 2022 has been the year of Carlos Alcaraz, who looks set to become the dominant force in the sport for many years to come. The 19-year-old has won four titles already this season, including Masters crowns in Madrid and Miami. Let’s also not forget Britain’s Jack Draper who has seen a meteoric rise this season with strong performances in Eastbourne, Montreal and Winston-Salem.

Junior wheelchair events – a Grand Slam first

This year’s US Open will be the first of the four Grand Slams to include a junior wheelchair tennis event, with draws of eight players for both boys’ and girls’ draws and British players having qualified to take six of the 16 available slots across the two draws - the biggest representation of any nation in the ITF Junior Series Grade A event.

Ben Bartram, Andrew Penney, Dahnon Ward, Joshua Johnson, Ruby Bishop and Ellie Robertson will all contest singles and doubles in the US Open Junior Wheelchair Tennis Championships from 8-11 September as fellow Brits Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne simultaneously bid for titles in the senior men’s, women’s and quad events.