Five not-Serena Williams women to watch at the US Open

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A six-time US Open champion, Serena Williams returns to New York in search of her 23rd grand slam title, which would put her ahead of Steffi Graf on the list of champions with most major titles in the professional era. Given her pedigree, Williams will start as a prohibitive favourite, but there are others with eyes on the prize. We look at five players capable of yanking the spotlight from the world No 1.

MADISON KEYS

A product of the Chris Evert Academy, Keys is an obvious choice. Blessed with a big serve and an aggressive all-round game, she has the skill to blast through opponents like Williams does. Of course, Keys, 21, is still short on experience, but she has been consistent on the big stage since making the semi-finals at the 2015 Australian Open. Keys has made it to the fourth round on each of her past four grand slam appearances and, with home support on her side, she could go even further this fortnight.

VENUS WILLIAMS

The elder of the Williams sisters, Venus has not tasted grand slam success since winning her seventh major crown at Wimbledon in 2008 and her last success at Flushing Meadows came in 2001. But never write the 36-year-old off. A semi-finalist at Wimbledon, Venus is enjoying her tennis at the moment and, though she has Karolina Pliskova and Agnieszka Radwanska in her path, do not be surprised if we see another all-sister semi-final.

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA

Winner of the US Open in 2004 as a 19-year-old, Kuznetsova is enjoying a career resurgence at 31. The Russian is back in the top 10 after dropping to as low as No 85 in 2013, and she reached the fourth round at the French Open and Wimbledon. Kuznetsova also has a win over Serena Williams in 2016, and has defeated other top 5 players like Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova this season as well.

JOHANNA KONTA

Ranked as low as No 151 in March, 2015, Konta, 25, has made an impressive climb up the charts over the past 12 months, first announcing her arrival on the grand stage at the 2015 US Open, where, as a qualifier, she defeated Garbine Muguruza on her way to the fourth round. The Briton followed that up with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and, returning to the place where it all started, she could be primed for big things.

PETRA KVITOVA

A two-time Wimbledon champion, Kvitova, 26, has surprisingly not done as well at Flushing Meadows, with her run to the quarter-final in 2015 her best result in eighth main draw appearances in New York. But the Czech is one of the most talented players on the circuit and, on her day, can blow any opponent off the court.