Aryna Sabalenka comes into the tournament as world No. 1 and two-time defending champion, carrying a 13-match winning streak in New York and a 34-6 career record at the event.
A third straight title would put her alongside Serena Williams as the only woman in the modern era to complete a US Open three-peat — a piece of history that has been out of reach for every dominant player of the last decade.
Her opening assignment is Camila Osorio, with a projected quarter-final against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. The hard courts have been the surface where Sabalenka's margins are largest; the doubt, as ever, is whether the form she brought into August holds for a fortnight.
Summarised by TennisArena from reporting by Business Standard — https://www.business-standard.com/sports/other-sports-news/us-open-2026-a-record-payday-historic-chases-and-stars-in-the-spotlight-126083000556_1.html