September was an unforgettable month for tennis enthusiasts. While top players like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek faltered at the US Open, the eventual champions were familiar faces. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka added another major title to their resumes, following their victories at the Australian Open earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive debut at the Laver Cup, playing a crucial role in Team Europe’s win—their first title since 2021.
Looking ahead, October promises more excitement. The Asian swing will conclude, and the race for spots in the ATP and WTA Finals is intensifying. Here are four predictions that could make this month a standout in the tennis calendar:
Naomi Osaka’s comeback has shown plenty of promise. Although her results haven’t been as strong as she’d hoped, her progress is evident. She started the year ranked outside the top 800 and is now projected to break into the top 60. While she didn’t advance past the second round at any of the Grand Slams this year, she did reach the quarterfinals at the WTA 1000 Qatar Open and the fourth round of the Italian Open.
At the ongoing China Open, Osaka looked sharp. Her partnership with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou had a strong beginning, as she reached the fourth round. However, she was forced to retire from her match against Coco Gauff due to an injury after the second set. Osaka is set to compete in next week’s Wuhan Open. Although winning there might be a tall order due to the stacked field, she could very well claim the title at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo afterward. Having won the title in 2019 and finishing as the runner-up in 2018 and 2016, Osaka thrives when playing in front of her home crowd. If she maintains her China Open form, she has a strong chance of lifting the trophy.
Elena Rybakina had a stellar first half of the season, securing three WTA 500 titles and reaching the finals of two WTA 1000 events. However, her performance at the Grand Slams was underwhelming, with her best result being a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon. Health issues have caused her to miss several tournaments, and these problems seem to be mounting.
Adding to her struggles, Rybakina recently parted ways with her long-time coach Stefano Vukov just before the US Open. She subsequently withdrew from the tournament ahead of her second-round match. A month later, she announced her decision to skip the entire Asian swing due to an injury. However, her challenges may extend beyond physical issues, as there’s speculation that her relationship with Vukov was strained, and the mental toll of their partnership is now affecting her.
