US Open Tennis women’s singles winner picks

The 2024 U.S. Open – the final major of the tennis season – begins in New York City on Monday, August 26. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff is looking to emerge from a recent slump and defend her 2023 title. Aryna Sabalenka, who finished runner-up to Gauff last summer, cemented her status as the favorite by triumphing this past week in Cincinnati. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek can also never be discounted, even though she is much better on clay than on hard courts.

Let’s review the odds and best bets to make for the U.S. Open.

U.S. Open women’s singles odds to win  

There is no overwhelming favorite in the women’s event at Flushing Meadows, even though Sabalenka is the odds-on top choice. Here is a not-so-short list: 

• Aryna Sabalenka +250 
• Iga Swiatek +370  
• Coco Gauff +750  
• Elena Rybakina +900  
• Jessica Pegula +1400  
• Qinwen Zheng +2500  
• Danielle Collins +2800  
• Jasmine Paolini +3200  
• Paula Badosa +5000  
• Amanda Anisimova +5000  
• Donna Vekic +5000  
• Ons Jabeur +5000  
• Madison Keys +5000  
• Emma Raducanu +5000  
• Emma Navarro +5000  
• Jelena Ostapenko +5000  
• Diana Shnaider +5000  
• Elina Svitolina +5000  
• Barbora Krejcikova +5000

U.S. Open Women's Singles Predictions 

Jessica Pegula 

Jasmine Paolini 

Paula Badosa 

Jessica Pegula to win the U.S. Open: Native New Yorker on fire this summer

Pegula has great value as the fifth favorite, well behind the top choices. Nobody played better or more consistently across the two recent WTA Premier 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati. The 30-year-old American captured the title at the former and was runner-up to Sabalenka at the latter. Thus, she heads to New York with a ton of momentum.

The only downside is a potential fatigue factor, but a week off between Cincinnati and the U.S. Open should be more than enough for Pegula. A New York native and daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, she will have a sizable home-court advantage at this tournament. The world No. 6 is a six-time major quarterfinalist, and this is the time for her to take the next step.

Jasmine Paolini to win the U.S. Open: Brazilian has reached final of last two slams 

Paolini has finished runner-up at each of the last two Grand Slams. There is no reason why she can’t go one step further and lift the winner’s trophy in New York City. The most encouraging aspect of Paolini’s breakthrough 2024 campaign is that she has been excelling on every single surface. She won a WTA 1000 title in Dubai (hard courts) in addition to reaching finals at the French Open (clay) and Wimbledon (grass).

The fourth-ranked Italian has underwhelmed since that Wimbledon performance, but the good news is it leaves her well-rested for the U.S. Open. Paolini has a great draw, too. She is a quarter of the bracket with a struggling Elena Rybakina and would not face Sabalenka until the final. 

Paula Badosa to win the U.S. Open: Washington, D.C. champ in resurgent form

Longshot bets are generally smart moves at the U.S. Open since this event comes at the end of a gruelling summer schedule and very few players at their physical best. That is the case to an even greater extent this year since the schedule has been even busier because of the Paris Olympics. If top players are vulnerable, Badosa may be able to take advantage.

The 26-year-old is a former No. 2 in the world, so it’s clear she has the talent to win a Grand Slam. Finally back from significant injury problems over the past couple of seasons, Badosa won the Washington, D.C. tournament earlier in August and is coming off a semifinal run in Cincinnati (lost to Pegula in three sets).