Aryna Sabalenka is brushing off a rough stretch heading into the US Open. The two-time defending champion hasn't reached past the fourth round at her last few tournaments, a significant dip for someone ranked number one. Yet Sabalenka isn't panicking about the slide. She's won this event twice. She knows how to peak at Flushing Meadows when it matters.
The bigger question for other contenders: how much should they read into her recent results? A player of Sabalenka's caliber can shake off a few early exits. The US Open comes at the tail end of a long season, and momentum is fragile. But form is form. If she can't string together wins against quality opponents before the tournament starts, that's worth monitoring for anyone picking favorites.
Still, dismissing Sabalenka would be foolish. Grand Slams are different animals. She's proven she plays her best tennis when the stakes are highest. The fourth-round exits sting, sure. They don't change what she's capable of doing in New York.