Aryna Sabalenka will once again head into the US Open with so much pressure on her, having failed to win any of the three Grand Slams that have come before it.
This was not for the want of trying, but sadly the world number one’s performance at the majors this year has been sub-par, her loss in the Australian Open final aside.
She missed a huge opportunity at Roland Garros to take advantage of a ravaged draw, and similarly at Wimbledon was stunned by a flawless Naomi Osaka performance in just the fourth round.
Now, Sabalenka will be keen to add to her major tally at the last opportunity, as she did last year, by winning the US Open.
Fortunately, Martina Navratilova pinpointed exactly what she boasts that her competitors do not, which she can lean on again this time around.
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Speaking to Sky Sports straight after Aryna Sabalenka had won the US Open, Navratilova began with the simple thing she felt had finally won her a Grand Slam in 2025.
“The experience paid off for Sabalenka,” she began, before briefly turning her attention to Anisimova, the losing finalist.
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She added: “For Anisimova. What a summer. She has nothing to hang her head about. If somebody told her you were going to be in the finals of Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, she’d be over the moon. But losing in the finals stinks. It hurts. But this was, I think, an easier loss to take, in a way, for her. She learned a lot from it, and she’ll be back.”
Then, Navratilova returned to Sabalenka: “Again, pressure was on her [Sabalenka].
“The expectations are so high when you’re at the top like that. And so close yet so far. Did not play her best tennis in those two finals when she got there. And she played her best tennis when she had to. Didn’t play her best tennis throughout the match, but she played her best tennis when she had to, which is kudos. That’s even harder to bring it when you have to.”
Aryna Sabalenka will have to repeat her US Open feat to save her season
In 2025, Sabalenka had enjoyed a sensational season, particularly in the Grand Slams.
And yet, she had no major titles to show for her efforts.
Just like she did this season, the 28-year-old started the year off by losing the Australian Open final.
Sabalenka then followed that up with another final loss, this time to Coco Gauff. On both occasions, she failed to win a deciding third set.
Wimbledon was less profitable, but a loss to a hugely in-form Amanda Anisimova was respectable at the semi-final stage.
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Again, she was staring down the prospect of spending the entire year as the world number one and failing to win a single Grand Slam.
Fortunately, with wins over the likes of Leylah Fernandez, Jessica Pegula and Anisimova, Sabalenka got what she so richly deserved. Now, she needs to repeat this miracle all over again this year.
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