The spotlight is set squarely on Aryna Sabalenka as the 2025 US Open approaches. After a season full of close calls and tough losses, the world number one heads into New York carrying all the weight. Will Sabalenka finally grab that elusive Grand Slam, or does pressure keep building with each near miss?
How Will Aryna Sabalenka Handle Expectations at the US Open?
Sabalenka faces enormous expectations as the year’s last Grand Slam draws near. After battling through two major finals in 2025 but coming up short each time, the Belarusian star enters the US Open with something to prove. Her recent run has been marked by heartbreak: She lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys in January, fell to Coco Gauff at the French Open in June, and was beaten by Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon semifinals. Now, as the defending US Open champion, Sabalenka finds herself staring at the prospect of ending 2025 without a single Grand Slam title.
Tennis legend Lindsay Davenport recently weighed in on the unique pressure Sabalenka faces compared to Coco Gauff heading into New York. Davenport said, “She (Sabalenka) saw so many heartbreakers this year. She’s now going into the last major of the year and she has not won one yet this year. So, even more pressure on her. Little bit less on Gauff because, hey, she won Roland Garros. So, at least when the season’s over, she at least has one major. But when you get to the point where you are holding more than one grand slam, it becomes about winning more majors.”
Davenport did not shy away from breaking down Sabalenka’s current technical challenges. She pointed out issues with Sabalenka’s game, saying, “Sabalenka, she got out-hit. Her backhand is a little bit of a mess right now. She’s going to have to figure out some technique there, use her legs more, but way too many errors from that side.”
Meanwhile, Davenport also commented on Gauff’s recent serving woes. “And Gauff looked exasperated last night that this was still happening on her serve. And you just hope that that doesn’t come up when she’s at the US Open, when the pressure is even more there.”
What Sets Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka’s 2025 Seasons Apart?
Looking at 2025, the paths of Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka couldn’t be more different. Both have delivered big performances, yet it’s the Grand Slams that separate their records this year.
Gauff kicked off her season by leading Team USA to victory at the United Cup, toppling world number two Iga Świątek in the final. Even though she bowed out of the Australian Open in the quarterfinals after losing to Paula Badosa, Gauff picked up momentum on clay, making finals in Madrid and Rome before breaking through at Roland Garros. The 21-year-old American lifted her second Grand Slam trophy at the French Open, outlasting Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a dramatic final. The win marked her as the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to claim the Paris crown. Still, Wimbledon proved challenging as Gauff exited in the first round to Dayana Yastremska.
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Sabalenka’s campaign has been steadier in tour-level events, with three WTA titles, Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid- before the Grand Slam season heated up. She became the first player on either tour to collect three titles in 2025. However, despite her strong play throughout the year, she still finds herself chasing that major title in 2025.
With the US Open set to begin, Sabalenka knows all eyes are on her. As the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, this tournament is her final shot in 2025 to get her hands on a Grand Slam trophy.
