Sabalenka's Crown Under Pressure
Aryna Sabalenka heads to Flushing Meadows as the bookmakers' top pick for the 2026 US Open, but her recent results tell a complicated story. The world No. 1 has fallen in the round of 16 at each of her last three tournaments, including Wimbledon, Toronto, and Cincinnati, and has looked noticeably out of rhythm. That said, writing her off entirely would be a mistake. Earlier this year she swept both the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open, becoming only the fifth woman in history to complete that coveted Sunshine Double. All four of her Grand Slam titles have come on hard courts, two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open itself, where she has compiled a remarkable 19-1 record over the past three years. Confidence, however, is a fragile thing, and right now hers appears shaky.
Challengers Lining Up With Momentum
Elena Rybakina looked like a serious threat after her runners-up finish in Canada, but a leg injury has cast real doubt over her readiness. She was forced to retire just five games into her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek, admitting she could barely walk. Rybakina also has a pattern of falling short in high-stakes moments, missing several chances to overtake Sabalenka in the rankings since the French Open.
Jessica Pegula is playing some of the best tennis of her career, reaching the Cincinnati final after finishing runner-up to Alex Eala at the Washington DC Open. Coco Gauff is arguably the hottest player in the draw right now, reaching at least the semi-finals in three consecutive events. Alex Eala, meanwhile, continues to climb after her Washington DC title, turning plenty of heads on the hard-court swing.
TennisDraw users tracking bracket outcomes will find this one of the most unpredictable women's draws in recent memory.
