Victoria Azarenka

• Age: 22
• Nationality: Belarusian
• Became Pro: 2003
• Height: 1.80

The big-hitting Belarusian heads into the US Open playing some of the best tennis of her career. This year has seen Azarenka regain her Sony Ericsson Open trophy in Miami before claiming another title on the clay in Marbella in consecutive April weekends. She then reached the final of the Madrid Open but lost to young Czech player Petra Kvitova when a favourite at the Spanish event, a disappointing result in an otherwise encouraging run. The 22-year-old is clearly hitting the ball well and her heavy baseline strokes should be an advantage on the quick courts. She must still prove herself in grand slams having never made it past the quarter-final at any of the majors, but seems to be riding the crest of a wave and could be ready to take the next step.