"There are very few weaknesses and she's definitely a major contender for the title"
Sunday 27 August 2017 18:10, UK
British No 1 Johanna Konta is a "major contender" to win the US Open, says Annabel Croft.
Andy Murray's withdrawal from the men's tournament means Konta is leading British hopes in the final Grand Slam of the year.
Konta is one of eight women who could end the US Open on top of the world rankings, and former British No 1 Croft believes the 26-year-old can go further than her semi-final finish at Wimbledon on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.
"She brings out such a high intensity every time she's on the court," Croft said of Konta, who made her breakthrough two years ago by reaching the fourth round of the US Open.
"She makes players have to play at such a high level to beat her because of that almost machine-like application to what she's doing. Even the way she walks is very purposeful and she gives off a lot of positive energy.
"She's really mentally tough and it's going to take somebody really good to beat her that's for sure. There are very few weaknesses and she's definitely a major contender for the title."
Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza currently sits top of the women's world rankings, with Serena Williams - due to give birth imminently - having been absent since the Australian Open.
Konta, who opens her campaign on Monday against Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, could face Muguruza in her half of the draw but believes the fight to be world No 1 remains wide open going into the tournament.
"I really believe that it's been that way for some time now," she said.
"It's a good thing that people start appreciating and actually noticing it, because it's a very exciting thing as a spectator coming to a slam and knowing you're going to have great matches all the way through and not just from the semi-finals.
"I think that's a very positive thing for the sport in general."
Konta is one of four British players who will start their campaigns on Monday.
Kyle Edmund, fresh from a run to the semi-finals of the Winston-Salem Open, takes on 32nd seed Robin Haase while qualifier Cameron Norrie will bid for a first main-draw win at a grand slam against Dmitry Tursunov.
Heather Watson won the junior title eight years ago but has not managed a senior victory, losing in the first round for the last six years.
"I've come here this time, I'm so excited, everything's good, I'm only looking forward," said Watson, who takes on unpredictable Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.
"I love New York, everything about here's awesome, I love the courts. It's going to happen. One time it's going to happen."
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the US Open covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with our live blogs and updates throughout the fortnight as the Grand Slam year reaches its climax.
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We will also have coverage of the World Tour Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
