Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and reigning Australian Open champion, is no stranger to pressure. But as she prepares to launch her US Open campaign in New York, there’s one statistic looming large — a record so striking that even she admits it’s hard to completely block out.
Sabalenka has never advanced beyond the semifinals at the US Open. Despite her consistency on the tour and back-to-back semi-final appearances in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Belarusian star has repeatedly found herself one step short of the Flushing Meadows final. The pattern has become such a talking point among fans and analysts that Sabalenka herself recently joked: “Should we try to change it?”
A Consistent, Yet Frustrating Record
Since her breakthrough in New York, Sabalenka has cemented herself as a force on hard courts, combining blistering power with relentless athleticism. Yet, while she has thrived in other majors — lifting the Australian Open trophy and making finals at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros — the US Open remains her most puzzling hurdle.
Her semifinal defeats have come at the hands of some of the game’s biggest names. Whether it was Leylah Fernandez’s dream run in 2021, Iga Świątek’s commanding comeback in 2022, or Coco Gauff’s breakthrough triumph in 2023, Sabalenka has been stopped by a rival who went on to capture the crowd and headline the final.
Why This Stat Matters
For a player of Sabalenka’s caliber, statistics carry weight. Winning the Australian Open and rising to world No. 1 status were both proof of her ability to push past mental barriers. But this repeated semifinal block in New York has become an “insane” stat that’s difficult for even the toughest competitor to ignore.
Still, Sabalenka insists she is not allowing history to dictate her mindset:
“Every year is different. I’ve learned from those losses, and I feel like I’m stronger now. I’ll just go one match at a time. I’m not going to stress about the semifinals — if I get there, great. Then we’ll see.”
Building for a Breakthrough
Part of Sabalenka’s approach has been refining her mental resilience, something she and her team have emphasized in recent months. Her ability to keep composure under pressure has already shown dividends in earlier tournaments this season, including her run to the Australian Open crown and a string of deep WTA finishes.
Analysts believe her improved consistency on serve, combined with her natural baseline dominance, makes her a genuine contender to finally smash through the semifinal barrier at Flushing Meadows.
The Bigger Picture
The US Open is the final major of the season and often the most chaotic, with high-energy crowds and late-night matches under the lights. For Sabalenka, conquering New York would not only silence the narrative surrounding her semifinal struggles but also solidify her as one of the most complete players of her generation.
Her own words sum it up best: “It’s a funny stat, but it doesn’t define me. Should we try to change it? Yes. And I’ll give everything I have.”
With her eyes firmly on the prize, Aryna Sabalenka isn’t just chasing victory at the US Open — she’s chasing history, determined to flip an “insane” stat into the breakthrough that cements her legacy.
