John McEnroe feels that the speed of courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center could play a key role in assessing Iga Swiatek’s title defense at Flushing Meadows.
The American thinks that overall the Pole has done a great job of thwarting attempts to knock her off the WTA #1 spot.
McEnroe suggests the 4-time GS winner has raised the bar high for herself with her consistent success on hardcourts and this would add up as another layer of pressure of the WTA world No. 1.
The former world No. 1 has also finger crossed for the home hope to end the American title drought from women’s draw after the successive wins of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the build up to the season-ending slam. The Europsport commentator backs Swiatek success on the slower New York courts.
“The dominance is extremely hard to keep up obviously,” McEnroe said as per Eurosport.
“You saw three male players share everything. Rafa, Novak and Roger. This whole situation was unusual from the beginning because Ash Barty retired and all of a sudden Swiatek was anointed No. 1.
“She did an incredible job for a while and then she proved she could win on hard court surfaces. Now obviously there is a lot more expected and more pressure. For the most part she’s done a great job. The fact that she is No. 1 obviously with other players it would be a huge win to beat her.
“People in the America are hoping that players like Pegula, very consistent, and Gauff, she’s got incredible upside, that was the first time that she had even won a set off her in eight or nine times.
“I think the court from what I heard was playing pretty quick [in Cincinnati]. I’m not exactly sure what it’s going to be at the US Open.
“If it’s slower the court would help her a little bit. If it’s faster it would probably help some of the other players a little more. That remains to be seen but I think overall she’s doing a great job.”
McEnroe also highlighted the point that the battle for WTA #1 crown between the in form Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Swiatek will captivate the fiends and make women’s draw more interesting.
“Sabalenka came through and won her first major [2023 Australian Open] so she’s more confident than ever,” McEnroe said.
“But it’s still pretty unpredictable what is going to happen. Some of it is going to depend on the draw and see what plays out. Both players will feel that pressure to finish that tournament and year as No. 1 so this tournament could determine the No.1 ranking which is exciting for the sport.”