Many players are still in the US Open women’s singles draw, but some have genuine ambitions of winning the title.
Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open for the first time last year after beating Jessica Pegula in the final.
The world number one is not currently in the same form as she was last year, with people including Martina Navratilova predicting Iga Swiatek to win the US Open instead.
While the likes of Sabalenka, Swiatek and Coco Gauff are the main contenders for the US Open, there is another lower ranked player who has the major title in their sights.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesHailey Baptiste reveals her goal to become a Grand Slam champion
That player is American Hailey Baptiste, who is the current world number 47 and has been speaking to Tennis Channel for their new series called Breaking Through.
At the end of the interview after discussing her journey to get where she is today, Baptiste was asked what her long-term career goal is.
Despite this being a big question, it took Baptiste very little time to say she wanted to become a Grand Slam champion.
Baptiste is yet to win a title on the WTA Tour, but is particularly eyeing up her home major of the US Open.
“To get a Slam, that’s my goal,” the 23-year-old revealed. “I would love to win the US Open, that’s obviously the home Slam, what I’ve watched and dreamed about as a little girl, so if I can do that I’m set.”
Baptiste added, “Even for your mentality on life, it’s what I’ve been doing my entire life is working towards that, so I mean accomplishing a goal like that, I’d be able to you know move on and do something else.”
Hailey Baptiste vs Naomi Osaka Head-to-Head
It has been a breakout season for Baptiste, who has been ranked as low as world number 100 this year.
Baptiste’s standout result this year is reaching the fourth round of Roland Garros, and she has now also won her first ever singles match at the US Open after beating Katerina Siniakova.
As a result, Baptiste has now set up a meeting with two-time former US Open champion Naomi Osaka, who she has played twice before.
Both of these previous meetings have resulted in victories for Osaka, and she will be looking to enact revenge in their upcoming match.
Baptiste will look to move closer to her goal of winning the US Open, when she plays Osaka on the Louis Armstrong Stadium on Thursday, August 29.