Defending champion Sabalenka arrives at US Open plagued by first-set collapses

Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka starts her title defence on 30 August in a slump. She lost after winning the opening set in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros, then fell in Toronto and Cincinnati — where she led Sara Bejlek 5-1 in a first-set tie-break and lost 7-6 (9-7) 6-4. Sabalenka says she is working on the mental side and "it is only a matter of time" before she returns. All four of her Grand Slam titles have come on hard courts.