Aryna Sabalenka, a player with four Grand Slam singles titles to her name, is looking to rediscover her top form at the upcoming US Open. Sabalenka, who has triumphed twice at the Australian Open and twice at the US Open, has also reached four major finals and six semi-finals, demonstrating a consistent presence on the sport's biggest stages.
However, recent tournaments have highlighted concerns about Sabalenka's mental focus in less pressurized situations. This was particularly evident in her fourth-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open, where she lost to 20-year-old Sara Bejlek. Sabalenka held significant leads in both sets, including 5-1 in the first-set tie-break and 4-1 in the second, but struggled to maintain composure during rallies as Bejlek staged a comeback, winning 7-6 (9-7) 6-4.
Similarly, at the previous tournament in Toronto, Sabalenka was eliminated in the last 16 by Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova after her serve faltered. During the clay-court season, she experienced further setbacks, capitulating after winning the first set against Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, Sorana Cirstea in Rome, and Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.
Despite these challenges, Sabalenka expressed confidence about her prospects in New York. "I work on my mental side of the game. I've been trying to reset my mind and to come back stronger," she stated. "It's only a matter of time for me to come back."
The 2026 US Open singles draw also features notable contenders such as Carlos Alcaraz, making a comeback, and Novak Djokovic, aiming for another title. In the women's singles, Sabalenka is the top seed, followed by Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, Linda Noskova, Karolina Muchova, and Iga Swiatek. The men's field is led by Alexander Zverev, with Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Djokovic, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, and Ben Shelton also among the leading seeds.