Aryna Sabalenka chases third straight US Open in New York as recent form raises doubts
On August 29, 2026, Aryna Sabalenka arrived at Flushing Meadows to pursue a third consecutive US Open singles title at the 2026 tournament after winning the trophy in 2024 and 2025. The world No.1 faces questions over her form following mixed results in recent months.
Sabalenka began 2026 by winning Indian Wells and Miami to complete the Sunshine Double and won 26 of her first 27 matches of the season, establishing early momentum on hard courts. Since April she has gone 17-7 and has not reached another final; she had reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last five US Open editions through 2025. Only Chris Evert and Serena Williams have previously won at least three successive US Open singles titles in the Open Era, with Evert claiming four from 1975-78 and Williams completing a three-peat from 2012-2014.
Her most recent setback arrived in Cincinnati, where 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek beat Sabalenka 7-6(7), 6-4 in the Round of 16 after Sabalenka led in both sets. That defeat, in which she surrendered winning positions, has been cited as evidence that vulnerability has crept into aspects of her game.
Commentators and former coaches have highlighted technical and mental concerns. A tweet reproduced in the source carried a Spanish exchange: — Periodista: "La gente siempre cuestiona qu pasa cuando no ganas torneos y en Cincinnati se te notó frustrada. Hay algo malo con tu tenis?".— Aryna Sabalenka: "Tal vez haya algo malo con la gente". pic.twitter.com/pMC2mu6EkK— Tiempo De Tenis (@Tiempodetenis1) August 28, 2026
Rick Macci, who previously coached Serena Williams, wrote on X: "Sabalenka is playing different than in the past. She is farther behind the baseline. She is on the back foot more. She is bailing out of the crosscourt lasers sooner than normal. Mentally her confidence has been tested and as a result the unreal belief we saw before is out the door." He added: "She has always been emotional but could regroup in 20 seconds. She can flip the switch but the ripple now is other players see she is hitting long and into the net and they feel they can pull the upset."
The draw presents several clear threats. Iga Swiatek ended an 11-month title drought by winning the Canadian Open in Toronto and lies in the opposite half, meaning a match with Sabalenka could occur only in the final. Coco Gauff arrives having won Cincinnati; Elena Rybakina suffered an ankle injury in her Cincinnati quarter-final against Swiatek, retired after five games and subsequently withdrew from the US Open mixed doubles event. Rybakina had entered Cincinnati with a chance to move to No.1, but her retirement removed that immediate opportunity and Sabalenka retained the top ranking heading into the tournament.
Depth across the women's field is notable: French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula and two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka are among players with the capability to advance deep into the draw, and seven different women's Grand Slam champions have emerged since the start of 2025. Sabalenka's top half also includes Barbora Krejcikova, Diana Shnaider and Wimbledon champion Noskova.
Sabalenka remains the defending champion and top seed at the US Open and retains the power and Grand Slam experience that produced the Sunshine Double in March. Her opening match is against Camila Osorio, a first step in a title defence that will determine whether she can re-establish the consistency and confidence that underpinned her early-season form.