Sabalenka relies on New York rhythm as she seeks third straight US Open title
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, aims to win a third US Open title by turning the city’s chaos into a competitive edge, despite a recent slump in form.
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and two-time defending US Open champion, is preparing for a third consecutive final in New York, where she will meet Elena Rybakina, the 2023 Australian Open winner who is set to overtake her in the rankings. Sabalenka says she has learned to draw energy from the city’s noise, traffic and crowds, treating the hectic environment as a source of motivation rather than a distraction.
"She can use this atmosphere; people are screaming around, even the traffic. It can drain you, but at the same time you can use it. It's kind of like a stress motivation thing," said her longtime coach Anton Dubrov. She has also adapted practical routines: staying on high hotel floors, eating at preferred restaurants such as the Polo Bar, and using headphones during the often-hour-long commute to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. After matches she follows a strict recovery protocol that includes a brief high-resistance bike session, stretching, a protein shake, a short shower and a quick dinner, followed by a 20-minute sleep routine that she and her fitness trainer Jason Stacy describe as a "sleeping superpower." Sabalenka’s recent season has been marked by several close defeats, including a match-point loss in Madrid, a quarter-final exit at Roland Garros and early exits at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. The upcoming final will test whether her New York-focused mindset can overcome the recent dip in form. "I think they really fall for the personality. If they like the personality, if they get to know a person better, they get a chance to fall in love," Sabalenka said of the American crowd. Her team, including physiotherapist Helen Murawska, emphasizes flexible scheduling to avoid late-night matches and to prioritize recovery, even performing treatments in hotel rooms at unconventional hours. While the routines provide structure, her mindset coach stresses that success is never guaranteed and that accepting possible defeat is part of the mental preparation.