Aryna Sabalenka's performances at the US Open mean she will make another appearance at the 2024 WTA Finals, but the Belarusian will have her sights set on achieving more than that.
Many fans and analysts considered Sabalenka the favorite heading into the US Open, and she has vindicated that status with a series of outstanding performances at Flushing Meadows.
After hammering Qinwen Zheng 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinal, she reached a second consecutive final in New York by overcoming a late scare against the home favorite Emma Navarro.
Sabalenka's outstanding hardcourt record is part of the reason many have rated her as the favorite since the start of the tournament. She has reached the last four Grand Slam hardcourt finals, an outstanding record.
The 26-year-old emphasized preparing for the US Open by skipping the Olympics to start her North American hardcourt season early. That was undoubtedly a hard decision, but it has paid dividends at the year's final Grand Slam.
Sabalenka needs to overcome Jessica Pegula to win her maiden US Open title. She defeated the American in the Cincinnati Open final a couple of weeks ago, although the conditions in Ohio were much faster than in New York.
Once the US Open ends, nearly two months of the season remain. However, Sabalenka's results have been so strong that her place at the year-end WTA Finals is already assured.
The Australian Open champion became the second player to qualify for the event after Iga Swiatek, accumulating 7,176 points before the US Open final, which is an impressive achievement.
Sabalenka has spoken in the past about how much becoming the world's No. 1 means to her. She briefly became the best-ranked player after the US Open last year before Swiatek retook the mantle at last year's WTA Finals.
Swiatek faces a severe fight to remain the world No. 1 if Sabalenka wins the US Open. That would cut her lead at the top of the WTA Race to just over 400 points, which is negligible.
The Belarusian was only at the top for eight weeks. Swiatek's overall dominance at the top of the rankings has been incredible. She has been the world's best player for 119 of the last 127 weeks.
That shows Swiatek's consistency has been better than Sabalenka's throughout the last two years. However, the Pole has not been past the quarterfinal of any Grand Slam outside the French Open in 2023 or 2024.
For whatever reason, Sabalenka does a better job of rising to the occasion at the Grand Slams outside the French Open. That is what has given her the opportunity to fight for the No. 1 ranking.
Swiatek will hope Pegula can stop Sabalenka in her tracks in the US Open final, just as Coco Gauff did last year. The American is also in excellent form, and her chances of causing an upset and reigning supreme at her home Grand Slam cannot be ruled out.
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