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World number one Aryna Sabalenka believes she is ready to hit her peak as she prepares to launch the defence of her US Open crown after a tumultuous season of near-misses.
The 27-year-old from Belarus arrives at Flushing Meadows sitting on top of the global rankings despite a year in which she has failed to add to her tally of three Grand Slam singles titles.
Agonising defeats in the finals of the Australian and French Opens, followed by a semi-final exit at Wimbledon, have left Sabalenka even more determined to retain her crown in New York, a tournament she regards as her favourite Grand Slam.
Aryna Sabalenka took a lengthy break after her Wimbledon disappointment, opting to skip the WTA Montreal tournament in order to recharge.
Although her return at the Cincinnati Open ended in a straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, a relaxed Sabalenka says she is in a positive mood heading to New York.
“I’ve had a pretty good season so far in the Slams. Lost those two finals, but I learned really tough lessons,” Sabalenka said.
“I lost in the semis at Wimbledon, but the consistency is there. I’m just missing a little, little part. (The US Open) has always been my favorite slam. I’m the defending champion, and I love being in this position.”
Both of Sabalenka’s Grand Slam final defeats this season went to three sets.
A gruelling 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 loss to Madison Keys in Melbourne was followed by a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 reverse to Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.
“I really hope those tough lessons are going to help me in this one,” said Aryna Sabalenka, who was criticised for remarks after her French Open defeat in which she suggested her own mistakes.
She subsequently apologised for her comments and has patched up her relationship with Gauff, who also defeated Sabalenka in the final of the 2023 US Open.
As the No.1 seed, Aryna Sabalenka could meet third seed Gauff in the semi-finals in New York, in a repeat of their 2023 final.
But the biggest threat to Sabalenka’s hopes of a successful title defence may come in the shape of Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who heads into the tournament brimming with confidence after following up her breakthrough Wimbledon title in July with victory at the Cincinnati Open.
Second-seed Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka in the semi-finals en route to winning the US Open in 2022, has looked in a relaxed mood since arriving in New York.
She shrugged off fatigue to partner Casper Ruud to Wednesday’s mixed doubles final, where the duo were beaten by Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, but looks well-placed to add a second US Open crown to her collection of six Grand Slam singles titles.
Meanwhile, the US hopes will be spearheaded by Gauff, the 2023 champion whose fortunes have fluctuated since her victory at the French Open in June.
The 21-year-old suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon and has struggled to get to grips with her service game since, notably making 23 double faults in a single match at the Canadian Open in Montreal last month — the most in a WTA-level match since 2011.
Gauff has moved to remedy those problems by shaking up her coaching team just days before the US Open, reportedly bringing in biomechanical coach Gavin McMillan to iron out the kinks in her serve this week.
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