Once again, Aryna Sabalenka enters a Grand Slam as one of the top picks, but her grip on that status has loosened as the season has progressed.
It’s her final opportunity to secure a major title this year after falling short in the Australian Open final and letting a one-set lead slip away at Roland Garros.
Her run at Wimbledon wasn’t exactly smooth either. Sabalenka struggled throughout and her semi-final exit didn’t come as much of a surprise given how she’d been playing.
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She’s held onto the world number one spot all year, but without a Grand Slam trophy to back it up, her lead at the top is starting to look less secure.
This US Open might be her best chance yet to put things right and finally get the recognition her season deserves.
Aryna Sabalenka highlights why the US Open holds special meaning for her
Sabalenka was asked about the prospect of not defending her title and potentially going a full year without a major win.
But she first addressed why the US Open stands out for her: “How important is it? Pretty important (smiling). As I said, being defending champion is an amazing feeling. Gives you a lot of great vibes and a lot of excitement going into the tournament.
“So it’s a very important tournament for me. Last slam of the year. I learned a lot of tough lessons this season on the Grand Slams. I really hope for the best here at the US Open, knowing how much I love playing here, knowing how much of the support I feel. “It’s an amazing place. I really hope I’ll do my best here.”
Sabalenka then sought to rate her season, regardless of whether she wins this major or not: “Well, of course, ideally I would love to finish the season with a Grand Slam and world No. 1. But I think if this goal is not going to be achieved, I’ll still think that this season has been really amazing for me. All of those tough lessons that I learned this season only going to make me stronger for the next one.
“I’ll work even harder in preseason to make sure next year is going to be a year of success, like, truly successful’ or ‘like, true success.”
If Sabalenka doesn’t win at Flushing Meadows, she’d join an unusual group that includes big names like John McEnroe and Lindsay Davenport – players who spent long stretches at world No. 1 without capturing another major during that time.
Aryna Sabalenka looks to emulate Serena Williams at the US Open
Sabalenka is aiming to achieve something that’s become increasingly rare on both the men’s and women’s sides over the past decade.
For a variety of reasons, very few players have managed to defend their titles successfully in recent years.
If the 27-year-old can lift the trophy again, she’ll be the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to defend her title at Flushing Meadows.
On the men’s side, you have to go back even further, all the way to Roger Federer’s five straight wins from 2004 to 2008.
So while Sabalenka is chasing a significant piece of history, falling short wouldn’t be anything close to a failure. It just shows how tough it is for anyone looking to repeat as champion here.
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