Aryna Sabalenka Faces Unwanted US Open Curse — Could Join McEnroe and Davenport in Shock List of Missed Opportunities…Read More…

Aryna Sabalenka Faces Unwanted US Open Curse — Could Join McEnroe and Davenport in Shock List of Missed Opportunities…Read More…

Aryna Sabalenka, the powerful Belarusian tennis star known for her booming groundstrokes and fiery presence on the court, stands on the brink of making tennis history — but perhaps not the kind she envisioned when the 2025 US Open kicks off in New York next month.

If Sabalenka fails to lift the trophy at this year’s US Open, she will enter a rather exclusive and unwanted club in modern tennis history: world No. 1s who have failed to win a singles title at Flushing Meadows despite multiple opportunities. This list includes two iconic names — John McEnroe and Lindsay Davenport — both of whom, despite periods of dominance and being ranked world No. 1, never captured the elusive US Open crown in singles during their illustrious careers.

For Sabalenka, the scenario is both haunting and ironic. The 26-year-old captured her maiden Grand Slam at the 2023 Australian Open and backed it up with consistent deep runs at other majors, solidifying her place atop the WTA rankings. But the US Open — a tournament that seems tailor-made for her aggressive style — has become her personal puzzle, with heartbreaks and near-misses haunting her journey in New York.

Near-Misses and Heartbreaks at Flushing Meadows

Sabalenka’s turbulent relationship with the US Open dates back to 2021, when she reached her first semifinal in New York. A heavy favorite against Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez, Sabalenka faltered in a tight three-setter that many believed should have been hers.

In 2022, the script felt eerily similar. She powered her way back to the semifinals, only to fall in a marathon battle against Iga Świątek, who went on to claim the title. Both matches exposed a mental fragility at crunch moments — double faults at key junctures, erratic shot selection, and moments of visible frustration that ultimately cost her dearly.

2023 brought fresh hope as Sabalenka entered the tournament as the Australian Open champion and newly anointed world No. 1. The weight of expectations, however, once again proved heavy. A quarterfinal exit at the hands of a resurgent Coco Gauff dashed her dreams of finally conquering New York.

A Champion Under Pressure

Sabalenka’s career resurgence in 2025 has been defined by her mental toughness and new coaching team’s emphasis on composure under pressure. Her victories at the Madrid Open and a runner-up finish at Roland Garros suggested she had finally turned a corner in high-stakes matches.

“I’ve learned to breathe through the pressure,” Sabalenka said earlier this season. “But the US Open? That’s a different kind of beast.”

And it truly is. The electric atmosphere of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the boisterous night sessions, and the relentless media scrutiny make the US Open a unique challenge for every player — even world No. 1s.

The Weight of History

The comparisons with McEnroe and Davenport aren’t merely statistical curiosities. John McEnroe, a four-time US Open finalist, won seven Grand Slam titles but famously could not add a fifth in his home Slam after 1984. His near-misses in the years that followed became a talking point of his career’s twilight.

Lindsay Davenport, the American powerhouse and former No. 1, similarly found success across the Grand Slams but left the US Open empty-handed in singles, despite reaching the final in 1998 and again in 2000. For Davenport, who won Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the US Open in doubles, the singles title in New York remained the one that got away.

Sabalenka could soon find herself mentioned in that same breath — a dominant player who somehow couldn’t capture the crown at Flushing Meadows.

Can She Break the Jinx?

The 2025 US Open presents perhaps Sabalenka’s best shot yet. Defending champion Coco Gauff is nursing a wrist injury, and Iga Świątek has shown vulnerability on hard courts this season. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu are still working their way back from extended breaks.

With a relatively open field and a seeding that should give her a favorable path through the early rounds, the stars seem aligned. Yet, for Sabalenka, it won’t just be about who’s across the net — it’s about the battle within.

Former champion Chris Evert weighed in, saying, “Aryna has all the tools. The serve, the power, the aggression. But at the US Open, it’s about how you handle the noise — both outside and inside your head.”

The Verdict Awaits

Will 2025 be the year Aryna Sabalenka finally silences her critics and lifts the trophy in New York, shedding the burden of past failures? Or will she join McEnroe and Davenport on the list of champions whose greatness was somehow never crowned at Flushing Meadows?

As the tennis world turns its eyes to the US Open, one thing is certain — for Sabalenka, history beckons. The only question is whether it will smile upon her… or haunt her legacy.