Sabalenka Optimistic Ahead Of US Open Despite Tough Grand Slam Year

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka “has huge hopes” returning to hard courts ahead of Canadian and US Opens.

Sabalenka feels confident on hard courts ahead of Canadian Open, US Open...  

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka says she’s optimistic heading into the US Open swing after a tough run at the majors this year.

The 28-year-old Belarusian exited before the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last month, lost in the French Open last eight in June, and finished runner-up at the Australian Open in January.

“I’m feeling really positive,” Sabalenka told reporters in Toronto about getting back on hard courts for the Canadian Open, where she’ll kick off her campaign on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t say that clay and grass... was that bad. I was trying a couple things, things didn’t go the way ‌I expected.

“And now we’re kind of back to ⁠the basics, and I really hope ‌it’s going to work out well on the hard court again.”’

That meant refocusing on her baseline game and making sure she felt solid and confident from the back of the court, she explained.

Sabalenka added that the stretch leading up to the US Open could be tough on players, particularly those who made deep runs in earlier events.

“If you go far in the grass court, you feel really ⁠fatigued and you’re not able to pull out any good tennis,” she said, before adding with a laugh: “But this year I didn’t do well, so I’m here.”

She’s also teaming up with Novak Djokovic for mixed doubles at the US Open. Their matches will be played in the week leading up to the singles draw, which starts on August 30.

“I’m pretty excited. I think it’s going to fun,” Sabalenka said. “Playing with Novak is always fun... We’re chasing (the) title, that’s our goal, I believe, so it’s going to fun and intense.”

  

Sabalenka also weighed in on the WTA’s new eligibility rule, which will require players to take a one-time genetic test to compete on tour. She said she backs the change.

Star-studded entry list! 🤩

These teams have officially entered into the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins. pic.twitter.com/MPKjgw74h0

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 27, 2026

“I think fairness is really important for the tour,” she said. “Biologically, men are a lot stronger than women, so I don’t think it would be fair for women to have to compete against a biological man.”

Sabalenka faced Nick Kyrgios in a much-talked-about “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition in Dubai last December, losing 6-3, 6-3. The match drew criticism, with some calling it a publicity stunt that undermined the women’s game.