This image is a derivative of Australian Open 2020 by Rob Keating (CC BY 2.0)

Since her win at the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams has endured a title drought at the Majors - losing four consecutive finals to Angelique Kerber (2018 Wimbledon), Naomi Osaka (2018 US Open), Simona Halep (2019 Wimbledon) and Bianca Andreescu (2019 US Open). 

At the age of 38, and after becoming a mother, Williams continues to compete as fiercely as before, even if she's struggled to break through at the most important moments in recent years.

Despite that, the 23-time Grand Slam champion remains one of the heavy favourites to win a record 24th major, and potentially equal Margaret Court's record.

Will Williams finally get her hands on another Slam in her own backyard, or will she once again come up short against one of her younger opponents?

While a number of top players, including the current world #1 and #2 in Ash Barty and Simona Halep won't be taking part, the field remains jam packed with quality and depth.  

Let's take a look at who's best placed to win US Open should Williams not be at her best in New York.

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NAOMI OSAKA

The 22-year-old youngster announced herself to the world after winning the US Open in 2018 and then following that up by winning the Australian Open a few months later. 

However, since then, the Japanese star has had some inconsistent results on the big stage, bowing out in the first round of Wimbledon before losing out to Belinda Bencic in the Round of 16 at the US Open. Her ranking has dipped, currently #10 in the world, having claimed the #1 mantle in January, 2019. 

This year, she failed to defend her title at the Australian Open, losing out to teenage sensation Coco Gauff in the third round. Her win-loss record in 2020 is a modest 5-3 and she will look to improve on that by going all the way at the very event she first announced herself to the world.

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KAROLINA PLISKOVA

The towering Czech player has been a consistent competitor in the top-10 for the past 5 years. While her potent serve has always been a threat, it hasn't managed to take her far at Grand Slam level, and while she has collected 16titles, she has just two Grand Slam Final-Four appearances from her 31 entries. 

The closest Pliskova came to winning a Major was in 2016 when she lost to Serena Williams at the final hurdle in New York. Since then, she's struggled mightily on the biggest stages, failing to find much of a game outside of her big serve. 

She has a 8-3 win-loss record this year, with one title to her name which she banked in Brisbane at the beginning of the year. 

While her preparation for the US Open Grand Slam took a hit as she was upset in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters, Pliskova remains a threat, and will perhaps benefit from playing in empty stadiums over the next fortnight.

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Karolina Pliskova has not left the Top 10 since re-entering in September 2016, playing under non-stop pressure since.

The No.3 didn’t mind the mental break.

"I rested mentally. So no matter how I play now, maybe you're not going to see, but I felt quite fresh and just happy.”

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 21, 2020

GARBINE MUGURUZA

The 26-year-old Spaniard rejuvenated her career after a serious form slump over 2018 and 2019. 

After winning the French Open in 2016, and the Wimbledon a little over a year later, Murguruza looked set to dominate the tennis world, yet by the end of 2019 she'd fallen to #36 in world and seemed bereft of confidence and form.

It does appear however as though the Venezuelan-born star is back to her best, and with coach Conchita Martinez now in her corner, has her sights set on reclaiming her #1 world ranking. 

Muguruza's 2020 began strongly, storming her way to the Australian Open Final at the beginning of the year where she ultimately fell to Sofia Kenin in three sets. With an excellent win-loss record of 16-4 this year, she'll look to add 7 more wins to her name at Flushing Meadows, and perhaps get her hands on a third Grand Slam title. 

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