Jasmine Paolini has good reason to flash her trademark smile heading into the US Open, which begins on August 24. Paolini’s game is rounding into form, as evidenced by a run to the final at the just-completed WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.
Paolini also got the most favorable overall draw in the 128-player field for the US Open, based on average world rankings of likely opponents.
Paolini, the No. 7 seed, likely will run into top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. However, she has a relatively easy path to get that far. Her first match is against a qualifier. The first seed she could run into is No. 32 McCartney Kessler, the last of the 32 seeded players whose live ranking is outside the top 40.
Who got the toughest and easiest draws for the U.S. Open?
Toughest draw for a top seed
Mirra Andreeva is the No. 5 seed for the US Open – her best seed for a Grand Slam to date. Her “reward” is the toughest draw among the top seeds, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents. Starting with a first-round match against under-ranked Alycia Parks, Andreeva will face nothing but opponents who will be ranked in the top 60 when the event begins.
Andreeva is also in the same quarter of the draw as 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula and the same half as Sabalenka.
Toughest draw overall
WTA No. 67 Ann Li from the United States got probably the worst draw possible. Her first match is against Rebecca Sramkova, who just missed the seeded players list. Any future matches for Li are likely to be against actual seeds, all ranked in the top 20.
Best opportunity for an unseeded player
Three-time US Open finalist and current world No. 133 Victoria Azarenka and the qualifier she faces in Round 1 have as good a chance to reach the third round as an unseeded player can ask. Azarenka or the qualifier will play No. 30 seed Dayana Yastremska or current No. 44 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the round of 32.