US Open 2026: ‘Competition Always Pushes You to Get Better,’ Says Sabalenka

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka says the intensity of competition at the highest level of tennis continues to push her to improve as she attempts to win a third consecutive US Open title.

Speaking ahead of her latest US Open challenge, Sabalenka said she enjoys the competitive pressure of having rivals chasing her while also understanding the demands of being the player everyone wants to beat.

“Competition always pushes you to get better,” Sabalenka said, describing the pressure as one of the reasons she loves sport.

The Belarusian entered the 2026 tournament as the world No. 1 and defending champion. She began her title defence with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Camila Osorio before defeating Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.

Sabalenka then defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 in the third round on September 4, extending her US Open winning streak to 16 matches and reaching the fourth round.

The victory also underlined her consistency at Flushing Meadows. Since her US Open main-draw debut in 2018, Sabalenka has accumulated more women's singles main-draw wins at the tournament than any other player, according to the WTA.

Her pursuit this year is particularly significant. Sabalenka won the US Open in 2024 and 2025, and another triumph would make her the first woman since Serena Williams to win the tournament three years in succession. Williams achieved that feat from 2012 to 2014.

Sabalenka has also spoken about the importance of maintaining balance away from tennis. She said the intensity of competition requires her to stay focused on court, while time away from the sport allows her to relax and recharge.

New York has become a particularly comfortable setting for the 28-year-old, who has described the city's atmosphere and crowds as sources of motivation. She will next face American Taylor Townsend in the round of 16.

With the tournament entering its second week, Sabalenka remains on course for a historic title defence—but faces increasingly difficult opposition as she seeks to extend her remarkable US Open run.