On the verge of walking away from tennis after dropping 10 consecutive games at the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka is now gearing up to defend her US Open crown and world number one status. Her recent form remains alarming. The Belarusian has failed to capture a single Grand Slam in 2026, and during a shock round-of-16 defeat to Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati, she drew the crowd's ire after lashing out at a ball kid. Coach Rick Macci believes she is currently battling herself. Her confidence is spiraling. Still, ahead of her opening clash with Camila Osorio, Sabalenka delivered a defiant message to her supporters: "Throw tough challenges at me, I will come back only stronger." The pressure is colossal. To retain her spot at the summit of the WTA rankings, she needs nothing short of the championship, with her closest pursuer Elena Rybakina constantly breathing down her neck. A third triumph on the New York hard courts would serve as the ultimate response to her recent slump, silencing the doubters and proving she remains the absolute undisputed favorite when the stakes are highest.