Business · Malaysia Bureau
Sabalenka eyes US Open three-peat despite ranking implications
Aryna Sabalenka has indicated she would willingly sacrifice her world number one ranking to achieve back-to-back US Open titles for a third consecutive year. The feat would match Serena Williams' 2012-2014 achievement at Flushing Meadows.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Belarusian tennis star has made clear that securing an unprecedented third straight US Open championship holds greater significance than maintaining her top seeding, underscoring her focus on major tournament success over ranking points.
Sabalenka's pursuit of consecutive US Open victories would place her in rare historical company. Only Serena Williams has previously achieved three consecutive titles at the same Grand Slam tournament in the modern era, capturing the crown in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
The world number one has demonstrated her capability to win major tournaments back-to-back, having secured the Australian Open title in consecutive years. Her commitment to US Open success suggests she views this specific tournament as her primary objective for the current season.
Matching or surpassing such a historic achievement would cement Sabalenka's legacy among tennis greats and validate her strategic prioritisation of major tournament victories over the maintenance of ranking positions throughout the season.
Tennis observers note that concentration on individual tournaments, particularly Grand Slams, often requires players to make tactical decisions that may impact their overall rankings despite their continued competitive dominance at the sport's highest levels.