Sabalenka seeks return to form at intriguing US Open

Sabalenka cemented her status as the leading force on the WTA Tour by becoming only the fifth female player ever to secure consecutive Indian Wells and Miami championships, establishing a commanding 3,000-point advantage at the summit of the global rankings.

However, a challenging phase subsequently emerged without apparent warning, leaving the 28-year-old Belarusian barely maintaining her top position just before the US Open, which is scheduled to commence on Sunday.

Returning to New York as the two-time defending champion, Sabalenka's performance since her victory in Miami has been a 17-7 win-loss record, which includes a disappointing quarter-final exit at the French Open and a disheartening defeat in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

This achievement falls considerably short of the expectations for a player who has secured four major titles.

With 2,000 points to defend at Flushing Meadows and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan now just 434 points behind, Sabalenka must clinch the title once more to extend her 99-week reign as the world's top-ranked player.

When questioned about her confidence in regaining her optimal form on the hard courts where she typically excels, Sabalenka responded affirmatively, stating that these difficult experiences would undeniably make her significantly stronger and motivate her to intensify her efforts.

Sabalenka's collection of four Grand Slam singles titles—two Australian Opens and two US Opens, all achieved on hard court surfaces—represents an accomplishment most athletes can only aspire to.

Nevertheless, she has also been a runner-up in four major finals and reached six semi-finals, showcasing a remarkable consistency on the sport's biggest stages that is unmatched by her contemporaries.

A growing concern in recent months has been Sabalenka's apparent loss of mental concentration during situations that are less high-stakes.

This issue was most recently evident in her fourth-round loss at the Cincinnati Open to Sara Bejlek, a 20-year-old Czech competitor. Despite leading 5-1 in the first-set tie-break and 4-1 in the second set, Sabalenka repeatedly struggled with composure during rallies, allowing Bejlek to stage a comeback and win 7-6 (9-7) 6-4.

In her preceding tournament in Toronto, she was defeated in the last 16 by Russian world number 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova, as her serve notably faltered.

During the clay-court season, Sabalenka notably collapsed after taking the first set against Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, Sorana Cirstea in Rome, and, most prominently, Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.

Speaking confidently in New York, a determined Sabalenka stated that she was actively working on the psychological aspect of her game, making efforts to reset her mindset and return with greater strength.

The decline in Sabalenka's performance has created an opening for Rybakina, who triumphed over the Belarusian to claim the Australian Open in January, to potentially ascend to the world number one position.

Rybakina might not even need to secure a single match victory at Flushing Meadows to achieve this, as she has fewer ranking points to defend compared to Sabalenka.

However, there are uncertainties regarding her physical condition due to an ankle injury sustained during the Cincinnati quarter-finals.

Rybakina could clinch the top ranking if her closest competitors—Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff—do not manage to win the championship.

Should Sabalenka successfully defend her title, Rybakina could still ascend to the number one spot by reaching the semi-finals.