Aryna Sabalenka arrives at Flushing Meadows chasing something that very few women in the Open Era have achieved: three consecutive US Open singles titles.
The world No.1 lifted the trophy in New York in 2024 and 2025, and victory this year would place her alongside an elite group of champions who have dominated the tournament across generations.
But for all the weight of history behind her pursuit, Sabalenka’s biggest challenge may not be the record books. It could be herself.
The Belarusian began 2026 in extraordinary fashion, winning Indian Wells and Miami to complete the Sunshine Double. She won 26 of her first 27 matches of the season and appeared to have established herself as the player to beat on hard courts.
Since April, however, the picture has changed dramatically. Sabalenka is 17-7 in that period and has failed to reach another final.
Her latest setback came in Cincinnati, where 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek stunned her 7-6(7), 6-4 in the Round of 16. Sabalenka led in both sets but could not close the match, a defeat that further exposed the vulnerability that has crept into her game.
CAN SABALENKA JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Sabalenka’s ambition is enormous because the achievement itself is so rare.
In the Open Era, Chris Evert and Serena Williams are the only women to win at least three consecutive US Open singles titles. Evert won four in succession from 1975 to 1978, while Williams completed her three-peat from 2012 to 2014.
Sabalenka therefore has an opportunity to create a piece of history that would elevate her US Open legacy considerably. She has already established herself as one of the tournament’s most reliable players, reaching at least the quarter-finals in each of the last five editions through 2025.
Yet her path to a third straight crown looks considerably less straightforward than it did when she swept through the early part of 2026.
Rick Macci, who previously coached Serena Williams, believes opponents are beginning to sense an opening.
“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,” Macci wrote on X.
“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,” he added.
That may be the biggest concern for Sabalenka. Her power has never disappeared, but the conviction behind it has appeared less consistent.
When her first strike fails, she has looked more vulnerable to opponents willing to absorb the pace and extend rallies.
SWIATEK, GAUFF, RYBAKINA WAITING FOR HER
Sabalenka will not have a shortage of players capable of exploiting those weaknesses.
Iga Swiatek has already rediscovered some momentum, ending an 11-month title drought by winning the Canadian Open in Toronto. The Pole is in the opposite half of the US Open draw, meaning a meeting with Sabalenka could come only in the final.
Coco Gauff is another obvious threat. The 2023 US Open champion has entered the tournament with renewed confidence after winning Cincinnati, and her athleticism, movement and ability to turn defence into attack make her particularly dangerous over two weeks in New York.
Elena Rybakina remains another major question mark. The Australian Open champion has been close enough to Sabalenka in the rankings to threaten the No.1 position, but her own US Open preparations have been disrupted by an ankle injury suffered during her Cincinnati quarter-final against Swiatek.
She was forced to retire after five games and subsequently pulled out of the US Open mixed doubles event.
The depth does not end there. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula and two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka all have realistic reasons to believe they can make a deep run.
The official draw itself reflects the uncertainty, with seven different women’s Grand Slam champions having emerged since the beginning of 2025.
NO.1 RANKING ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF PRESSURE
Sabalenka’s concerns are not limited to the US Open trophy. Her No.1 ranking has also come under pressure from Rybakina.
Rybakina entered Cincinnati with a chance to move to the top of the rankings, particularly after Sabalenka’s early exit. But her retirement against Swiatek ended that immediate opportunity, meaning Sabalenka retained the No.1 position heading into the US Open.
Rybakina’s injury has since added another layer of uncertainty to the rankings battle.
That narrow escape could make New York even more significant. Sabalenka is defending the title, carrying the expectations of being the top seed and attempting to achieve a feat last accomplished by Serena Williams in 2014.
The good news for Sabalenka is that she does not need to rediscover everything. She needs to rediscover belief.
Her opening match is against Camila Osorio, while the top half of the draw also contains potential obstacles such as Barbora Krejcikova, Diana Shnaider and Wimbledon champion Noskova.
Sabalenka has already proved that she can thrive under the lights of Flushing Meadows. She has the power, experience and Grand Slam pedigree to make another deep run.
But the version of Sabalenka that completed the Sunshine Double in March looked almost untouchable; the one who surrendered leads and fell to Bejlek in Cincinnati looks considerably more human.
A third consecutive US Open crown would put Sabalenka in a historical club occupied by Evert and Serena.
But before she can chase their record, she must first answer a more immediate question: can she rediscover the confidence that made opponents fear her in the first place?
Where to watch US Open 2026 matches?
Star Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for US Open 2026. Live streaming of the matches will be available on JioHotstar.
US Open 2026 women’s top seeds
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Elena Rybakina
- Jessica Pegula
- Coco Gauff
- Mirra Andreeva
- Linda Noskova
- Karolina Muchova
- Iga Swiatek
- Elina Svitolina
- Amanda Anisimova
– Ends
