Serena chases record 24th Slam as Osaka, Halep eye US Open

Serena Williams has the US Open spotlight as she chases tennis history, but a host of Grand Slam winners and high-ranked rivals are also taking aim at the title.

The 37-year-old American will be the focus of attention when the Flushing Meadows fortnight begins Monday with her first-round night match against Russian Maria Sharapova the most anticipated of the women's openers.

"Of course I'm going to watch it," said top-seeded defending champion Naomi Osaka, who beat Williams in last year's US Open final.

"I think everyone in New York is going to watch it.

"I'm not that surprised that that happened, because at every Grand Slam there's always some sort of drama. Like a first round. Like, Oh my God. So this match just happens to be that for this tournament."
"There are so much more important things in my life. And obviously tennis is super important to me... but yeah there are always other things in life, I feel, that are really big on my plate too."
- Osaka 'very confident' -
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"This year I went to two quarter-finals back to back and I feel very confident about how I am right now."
"I'm not sure if it's because the last couple of months have been kind of turbulent but definitely I feel really comfortable and I know that, despite everything, I play well here every year. So I'm not too worried about that."
"Luckily I'm a fast healer so I think it's looking good."
- Halep's confidence high -
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"The pressure of doing something special, it's off. Now what comes, comes as a bonus. I'm still working, I'm still motivated to win titles. I've started to feel more and more that I'm capable to do that so my confidence is very high."