“I have to stay calm,” Aryna Sabalenka whispers to herself, a mantra of resolve as the US Open 2024 draws near. The air is thick with expectation—after all, Sabalenka just claimed the Cincinnati Open title with the kind of dominance that makes headlines. Yet, beneath the surface, doubts linger. Her form, while powerful, has shown cracks, and with the US Open’s draw now out, the road ahead seems more treacherous than triumphant.

Sabalenka’s victory lap in Cincinnati was barely over when reality came crashing back down. The new draw isn’t just a series of matches; it’s a gauntlet. As the second seed, having overtaken Coco Gauff’s world No. 2 spot, Sabalenka’s journey begins with a qualifier—a seemingly easy start, which seems to be the calm before the storm.

In the second round, she’s slated to face Lulu Sun, the rising star whose unpredictable surge to the Wimbledon quarter-finals shocked the tennis world. And just as she gets past Sun, the third round promises to be a battlefield with potential foes like Ivan Jovic or Ekaterina Alexandrova. But it’s the pre-quarters where the true danger lies: a likely showdown with American powerhouse Madison Keys.

Keys is no stranger to Aryna Sabalenka; their clash at the US Open 2023 semi-finals is still fresh in everyone’s minds. Keys came out swinging, dominating the first set and giving Sabalenka no room to breathe. But Sabalenka, the fighter she is, clawed her way back, turning the tide in a thrilling match that ended 0-6, 7-6, 7-6 in her favor. That victory was hard-won, but it’s a reminder that nothing comes easy against Keys.

Even if she manages to surpass the challenge against Keys, the semi-final showdown is likely to bring in another scare. China’s Qinwen Zheng, who managed to take Iga Swiatek to lay her hands on the Olympic gold medal, stands as a possible rival against “the Tiger”. Although the tennis world hasn’t seen Zheng take down the Belarusian in the past, her recently grown levels make it hard to predict a similar outcome.

As Sabalenka prepares for what could be the most grueling run of her career, the pressure is palpable. The crowd’s eyes are on her, expectations mounting with every step she takes. The draw might be daunting, but Sabalenka knows this is her moment to prove she’s not just a champion, but a fighter who can withstand whatever the US Open throws her way.

Aryna Sabalenka drafts a strategy for the US Open

Sabalenka is determined to turn things around at the US Open after a tough run in Washington and Toronto. The new world number two admitted to the fact that her emotions got the better of her after coming back from an injury break. She realized that she played her best tennis when she stayed calm and confident, regardless of the on-court situation. Sabalenka said, “Even if I lose the match easily, I have to stay calm. I have to practice that. And I have to have this belief that I’ll be able to turn around that match no matter what the situation is.”

The Belarusian WTA star knows she needs a new approach to succeed in New York. She is planning to avoid the emotional outbursts that have sometimes hurt her performance. “I just realized that I have to be that way. There is no other way for me if I want to do well here and New York,” the Cincinnati Masters champion added.

With this new mindset, it is clear that the WTA world no.2 is focused on staying calm and confident as she looks to add another grand slam title in her list.