US Open 2026: Sabalenka seeks third consecutive title amid form concerns

The 2026 US Open is scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The tournament features a highly competitive field, with defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka seeking a historic third consecutive title. However, Sabalenka faces scrutiny regarding her recent form, having not won a title since March, and her ability to maintain her world No. 1 ranking against challengers like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula.

In the men's draw, Alexander Zverev holds the top seed, while Carlos Alcaraz returns from a four-month injury layoff to defend his title. Notably, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament due to a right knee injury.

Beyond the competition, Sabalenka has drawn significant attention for her fashion choices, specifically wearing a jewelry set from Material Good featuring over 127 carats of gemstones during her doubles match. Her coaching team, led by Anton Dubrov, has indicated they are focusing on mental resilience and finding new ways to regain the consistency seen earlier in the season.