Aryna Sabalenka targets Toronto revival.

World No.1 seeks momentum ahead of US Open defence.

Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Toronto determined to put her Wimbledon disappointment behind her and reassert her dominance on hard courts. The Belarusian star, currently holding the world No.1 ranking, faces added pressure at the WTA 1000 event, where Elena Rybakina could overtake her if Sabalenka falters early and the Kazakh lifts the trophy.

Sabalenka’s season on hard courts has been exceptional, boasting 23 wins from 24 matches, with her only setback coming in the Australian Open final against Rybakina. However, her form dipped on other surfaces, she exited Roland Garros in the quarter-finals and suffered a surprise round-of-16 defeat to Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon.

After Wimbledon, Sabalenka admitted she needed to “forget about tennis” and took a short break in Mykonos. That reset, she says, has left her refreshed and eager to return to competition. “I think the rest was much-needed,” she explained. “Now we’re back to basics, and I’m excited to work towards my goals for this swing.”

Toronto has never been a particularly successful venue for Sabalenka, who has yet to progress beyond the semi-finals in Canada. This year, she leads a challenging top half of the draw that includes third seed Jessica Pegula, 2024 finalist Amanda Anisimova, and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, who is also looking to rebound after a disappointing Wimbledon.

The bottom half of the draw is anchored by Rybakina, joined by fourth seed Coco Gauff, Osaka, and newly crowned Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Noskova, who recently broke into the top 10, could face rising star Alexandra Eala in the third round, having already beaten her twice this season.

Notable absentees include Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova, recovering from minor surgery, and Canada’s Victoria Mboko, sidelined with a knee injury after her breakthrough title run last year.

Sabalenka acknowledged the challenges of the summer schedule, with Toronto followed closely by Cincinnati and then the US Open. “If you go far in the grass season, it’s tough to recover in time,” she said. “This year I didn’t do well, so I’m here ready to fight.”

Her campaign begins against Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima, who advanced with a straight-sets win over Cristina Bucsa. With her ranking on the line and the US Open looming, Toronto offers Sabalenka both a test of resilience and an opportunity to regain momentum.