# Aryna Sabalenka Target-Focused On Third Consecutive US Open Crown Despite Recent Dip In Form

> World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is set to chase a title hat-trick at the US Open starting Sunday, looking to put behind a series of recent early exits and match Serena Williams' landmark achievement.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Tennis · **Published:** 2026-08-29 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/tennis/kharaba-phorma-ke-bavajuda-us-open-men-lagatara-tisari-trophi-para-aryna-sabalenka-ka-nishana-24113 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Aryna Sabalenka, US Open, Tennis, Serena Williams, Grand Slam, WTA

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is gearing up to defend her crown at the US Open starting this Sunday in New York, aiming to achieve a rare hat-trick of titles. Despite enduring a sluggish run in recent tournaments, the top-ranked star remains fully focused on capturing her third consecutive championship on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

## Recent Struggles on the Hard Court Swing
Sabalenka started the season on a high note by reaching the Australian Open final, where she finished as runner-up to Elena Rybakina. She quickly translated that momentum into victory by claiming back-to-back hard-court titles at Indian Wells and Miami. However, her form dipped as the season progressed. After a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon against Naomi Osaka, tennis observers expected her to dominate on her preferred hard-court surface. Instead, she suffered another fourth-round defeat in Toronto at the hands of Ekaterina Alexandrova. Her campaign in Cincinnati also ended in frustration when she failed to hold onto leads in both sets against Sara Bejlek.

## Addressing Critics and Building Resilience
Facing scrutiny over her unexpected early exits, Sabalenka has dismissed concerns regarding her overall game. When questioned about what might be going wrong on the court, she bluntly remarked, "Maybe something is wrong with the people." Reflecting on her recent dip in form, she acknowledged that the past few weeks were challenging as she navigated multiple issues behind the scenes. Rather than offering excuses, she stressed that these setback experiences will serve as valuable lessons to push her training further, expressing confidence that returning to peak condition is merely a matter of time.

## Chasing Serena Williams' Historical Milestone
The US Open has consistently brought out the best in Sabalenka over recent years. She captured her maiden tournament title in 2024 after defeating Jessica Pegula in a compelling final. She then successfully defended her crown last year by overpowering Amanda Anisimova in the championship match. Should she lift the trophy once again in New York, she will become the first female player to win three straight US Open singles titles since Serena Williams completed her dominant three-year run from 2012 to 2014.

## What this means for you
The top-ranked player's slump and pursuit of history create a compelling narrative for tennis enthusiasts and analysts heading into the tournament.

- **For Tennis Fans:** Sabalenka's matches will offer high-stakes drama from the opening rounds. Viewers can track whether she matches Serena Williams' iconic three-year championship streak.
- **For Fantasy Players & Analysts:** Her recent loss of momentum makes early match predictions unpredictable. Analysts must factor in her loss of leads in Cincinnati before picking her as a clear favorite.
- **For Aspiring Athletes:** Sabalenka's candid refusal to offer excuses serves as a lesson in elite sports psychology. Young competitors can learn how to process disappointing results while maintaining self-belief.
- **For Broadcasters & Organizers:** The pursuit of a US Open title hat-trick boosts prime-time viewership. High fan interest in women's singles matches is expected throughout the fortnight.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What historical record is Aryna Sabalenka chasing at the US Open?
If she wins, she will become the first female tennis player since Serena Williams (2012-14) to capture three consecutive US Open singles titles.

### 2. Whom did Sabalenka defeat in her previous US Open final victories?
She defeated Jessica Pegula in the 2024 final and Amanda Anisimova in last year's championship match.

### 3. How did Sabalenka fare in her recent warm-up tournaments?
She failed to progress past the fourth round, losing to Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon, Ekaterina Alexandrova in Toronto, and Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati.

### 4. Which titles did Sabalenka win earlier in the 2024 season?
After finishing as runner-up to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open, she won back-to-back hard-court titles at Indian Wells and Miami.

### 5. What was Sabalenka's response to criticism regarding her game?
When asked what was wrong with her game, Sabalenka responded by saying that maybe something was wrong with the people.

## Inspiration & Lessons
Sabalenka's elite mindset provides powerful takeaways for overcoming setbacks and handling intense public scrutiny.

- **Dismiss External Doubt:** When critics questioned her game, Sabalenka retained complete self-belief rather than internalizing negative public commentary.
- **Refuse to Make Excuses:** Instead of offering alibis for recent losses, she took ownership of her performance and treated failures as constructive learning steps.
- **Lean on Core Strengths:** Despite recent losses, she remains confident in her proven ability to perform on her favorite hard-court surface.
- **Maintain Long-Term Perspective:** Understanding that peak form is a matter of time emphasizes patience and consistent effort through difficult phases.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._