Sorana Sabalenka's performance level is the key variable heading into the US Open, and its trajectory will determine how far she advances in the event. The player arrives with a public question hanging over her game, whether she can regain the peak play that makes her a genuine threat at a major. That uncertainty raises the stakes for every match she plays in New York.
If Sabalenka rediscovers consistent timing, aggression and mental sharpness, the immediate consequence will be clear, she becomes a contender capable of altering the draw. Conversely, if those elements remain uneven, early-round tests gain outsized importance and the tournament could end sooner than supporters hope. Either outcome will shape narratives about her readiness and form for the weeks that follow.
The pressure of a Grand Slam magnifies both strengths and weaknesses. For a player seeking a reset, matches at this level provide more than results, they supply evidence. Match wins would supply momentum and quiet questions, while struggles would prompt scrutiny of form and strategy. The US Open therefore functions as a practical barometer of whether a return to peak performance is underway.
How Sabalenka responds to that pressure will determine the immediate arc of her season. Her results in New York will not only decide how far she goes in the tournament, they will also set expectations for the near term, influencing confidence and public perception. The coming fortnight will supply the answers to a simple question: has she re-found the ingredients that make her a top competitor?
