Despite the 2024 US Open crowning the two tournament favourites Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabelenka as champions, the fortnight was full of upsets, drama, and controversy.
The US Open is unfortunately over for another 12 months and two new champions have been crowned.
After Emma Navarro ousted defending champion Coco Gauff for the second consecutive major this year, Novak Djokovic fell to Alexei Popyrin in a stunning upset.
In terms of breakout stars, Britain’s Jack Draper marched to the best grand slam result of his career as he reached the last four, while America’s own Taylor Fritz put to bed his previous major wobbles and progressed to his maiden final.
However, with the spotlight on the two new head of the hard-courts, a dynamic WTA star has caught the attention of Andy Roddick.
Andy Roddick names Karolína Muchova as an ‘absurd’ WTA player after her US Open run
Roddick was full of praise for US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula with her run to the finals her best ever major result by some distance.
However, he pointed to her semi-final opponent Karolína Muchova as a player he’s astonished hasn’t been at the very top of the WTA.
“Muchova, I don’t know how she hasn’t been top three in the world forever. I hope she gets that run because I think she is an elite tennis player. I think she is phenomenal,” Roddick said on his podcast ‘Served’ where he was joined by Kim Clijsters.
“Muchova’s been in the finals of the French Open, was in the semi-finals of the US Open last year, and then had nine months off in between and then made the semi’s again. That’s absurd!”
The Czech sensation was defeated from a set and a break up against Pegula in a remarkable turnaround.
However, having had just shy of a year off after injuring her wrist at last year’s US Open, Muchova rejoined the tour in June in style.
Could Karolína Muchova challenge at the top of the WTA?
Clijsters acknowledged that Muchova’s fitness struggles have been the main reason behind her lack of consistency at the top.
Previously ranked as high as eighth, Muchova also has the ability to adapt on all three surfaces, with a varied and unorthodox game style largely out of kilter with the rest of the WTA circuit.
A confident serve and volleyer, Muchova has adopted a unique approach to her game that rocked her opponents in New York.
The Czech beat Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini on the way to the semi-final where she dropped the first and only sets of the tournament.
Providing injuries remain at bay, Muchova’s instant comeback to the latter stages of a major prove her quality – undoubtedly I think she will be back in the top 10 in no time.
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