Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending US Open champion, faces a stark reality as the tournament kicks off this Sunday: she must win the title again to extend her impressive 99-week run as the world number one. After a season that started with her looking utterly unstoppable, a sudden and brutal downturn in form has left her clinging to the top spot by a thread. This is wild to see from someone who’s dominated the hard courts like she has.
From Sunshine Double to Slipping Grip
Early this season, everything looked bright for Sabalenka. She pulled off a rare ‘Sunshine Double’, becoming only the fifth woman ever to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back. That cemented her as the dominant force on the WTA Tour, opening up a massive 3,000-point lead in the world rankings. But then, out of absolutely nowhere, a difficult period hit. Her win-loss record since that Miami triumph stands at a worrying 17-7. We’re talking a chastening French Open quarter-final exit and a disheartening defeat in the Wimbledon fourth round. That’s just not the standard for a four-time major winner. She’s got 2,000 points to defend at Flushing Meadows, and that’s a huge hurdle when your game feels a bit off. The concern for fans has been watching her mental focus just evaporate in what should be less pressured spots. You saw it clearest at the Cincinnati Open when she led 5-1 in a first-set tie-break and 4-1 in the second set against 20-year-old Sara Bejlek, only to lose 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 because she couldn’t find her composure in the rallies. Even her serve crumbled in Toronto against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The Sharks Are Circling
Sabalenka’s struggles have absolutely opened the door for others to pounce, none more so than Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka to win the Australian Open back in January, is now trailing by a mere 434 points. The wild part? Rybakina might not even have to win a match at Flushing Meadows to snatch that number one ranking, because she has fewer ranking points to defend than Sabalenka does. Even if Sabalenka does somehow manage to retain the title, Rybakina could still climb to the top by reaching the semi-finals. But there are questions about Rybakina’s own fitness, stemming from an ankle injury sustained in the Cincinnati quarter-finals. Beyond Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, the 32-year-old 2024 finalist, is always consistent and is coming off strong runs to the Washington and Cincinnati finals. And then there’s Coco Gauff, fresh off beating Pegula to grab the Cincinnati trophy. She’s got that winning experience now.
Sabalenka is bullish, though. Asked about finding her mojo on these hard courts she loves, she said, “Absolutely. These tough lessons are definitely going to make me way, way stronger and working even harder.” She’s trying to reset her mind, adding, “It’s only a matter of time for me to come back.” She’ll need every ounce of that confidence starting Sunday when the US Open begins. Can she dig deep and defend her title and her spot? It’s all on the line.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
Leave a Reply