Aryna Sabalenka has already been handed good news before her first round match at the US Open this year.
Sabalenka is bidding to win her third consecutive US Open title this year, but she is coming into this year’s tournament in a very different situation to the two previous years.
It has been a struggle for Sabalenka recently, with the Belarusian failing to reach the quarter-finals at any of her last three tournaments.
As a result, other WTA players are being picked over Sabalenka for the US Open title, but her chances of winning her third in a row have been given a huge boost ahead of her opening match.
Aryna Sabalenka should be boosted by Barbora Krejcikova’s US Open exit
When the women’s singles draw at the US Open was released, the first clear threat to Sabalenka appeared to be Barbora Krejcikova, who she could have faced in the third round.
Krejcikova is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion and had rediscovered some form and fitness in recent months, making her a real dark horse for the US Open this year.
Sabalenka’s form has been very tumultuous in some of her recent defeats, something that a crafty player like Krejcikova could have exploited.
However, that will not be the case, as Krejcikova lost her first round match to Kamilla Rakhimova, opening up the draw for Sabalenka before she even plays her first round match.
Following Krejcikova’s exit, Sabalenka now knows that the first seeded opponent she could face is in the fourth round, which could be either Diana Shnaider, who beat her at Roland Garros, or Maja Chwalinska.
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It is clear who Aryna Sabalenka’s biggest threat now is at the US Open this year
With Krejcikova losing in the first round, the path to the title in Sabalenka’s draw now looks a lot clearer.
However, it is clear who Sabalenka’s biggest threat really is and it is not any of her opponents.
In most of Sabalenka’s recent defeats, it has seemingly been her on court frustrations that have been the biggest disrupter to her own game.
When Sabalenka is playing at the peak of her powers, she has proven that no-one on the WTA Tour can really match that, hence why she has been world number one for 97 consecutive weeks.
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Four women are in contention!
This is something that Sabalenka needs to try and tap into if she is to make history by winning her third US Open title, particularly when Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff all have chances to dethrone her as world number one in New York.
Sabalenka will hope to put any past frustrations behind her for her opening US Open match against Camila Osorio, which will open up Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, August 31.
