Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff: an unimaginable ultimatum at the 2026 US Open

Who would have thought we would arrive at the last Grand Slam of the season without Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, or Cori Gauff winning any of the other three? The competitiveness of the WTA tour continues to rise, and three of the most recognizable names in a golden saga destined to dominate will present themselves at the US Open 2026 under enormous pressure.

There are many explanations that can be offered regarding what is happening in women's tennis and various data that reinforce the great moment being experienced in the WTA circuit and how difficult it is to win major titles due to the density of players capable of achieving glory. Since Barty's retirement, the focus has shifted to Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as potential protagonists of a historic rivalry, a theory fueled by that memorable duel in Madrid 2024.

However, the emergence, consolidation, and progress of Cori Gauff in recent times has allowed the American to intrude in what seemed to be a duopoly, which ended up being diluted before it could even take shape. Rybakina, various skirmishes from players like Vondrousova, Krejcikova, and Keys, as well as fierce opposition from numerous players capable of preventing this Big 3 from dominating with an iron fist, have laid the groundwork for what we are witnessing today.

Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff have each won Grand Slam titles in two seasons

Since 2022, one of them has been winning a Grand Slam title, with 2023 and 2025 being the years when women's tennis seemed closest to a historic triumvirate, as all of them lifted a top-level trophy. Therefore, no one could have imagined that we would reach the US Open 2026 without any of the three having shouted champion in major tournaments.

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The crisis of Aryna Sabalenka, the loss of identity of Iga Swiatek and her gradual rearmament, as well as Cori Gauff's structural changes thinking long-term, have come together with an astonishing increase in both qualitative and quantitative terms of candidates for major achievements. Rybakina, Andreeva, and Noskova have thwarted the aspirations of the Belarusian, the Pole, and the American this year, but will any of them be able to redeem themselves in Flushing Meadows?

Significant green shoots are being seen in an Iga Swiatek whose title in Toronto could be a turning point for her, while a strong and early resurgence is expected from Aryna Sabalenka, who cannot afford a blank year. The option of seeing Cori Gauff conquering New York seems more distant, though it is by no means dismissible.

But it would not seem far-fetched for none of the three to win the title at the US Open 2026 and be forced into deep reflection for the upcoming seasons. They are all aware that their status as tennis players "obliges" them to win at least one Grand Slam per year, but what if none of the three manages to do so? Tennis is unpredictable.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka, Swiatek y Gauff, un ultimátum inimaginable en el US Open 2026