Sabalenka vs Rakhimova Prediction 4 September 2026
🔊 Aryna Sabalenka and Kamilla Rakhimova meet in the third round of the US Open. The defending champion is firmly focused on retaining her title, while her opponent has already exceeded expectations. For Rakhimova this match is a chance to make history; for Sabalenka it is another step on the road to a third title.
Head-to-Head
📊 In head-to-head meetings, Sabalenka leads 3-0. Their most recent match was last year at Roland Garros, where Aryna beat Camilla 6-1, 6-0.
Head-to-head statistics Sabalenka - Rakhimova
Aryna Sabalenka Player Overview
The Belarusian arrives at the North American major as world number one and the dominant force on fast courts. Although she occasionally struggled to find her rhythm at the pre-Slam Masters events, she has hit top form by the time New York came around. Hard courts are her natural surface. Her game is built on relentless pressure, a powerful first serve and the intent to finish rallies in two or three shots.
At the US Open, Sabalenka has yet to face any real resistance. She moved through the first two rounds in something close to cruise control, sweeping aside Osorio (6-2, 6-4) and Yatsenko (6-1, 6-1) and forcing both opponents into a defensive posture where they simply made errors under the weight of her attacking play. She looks thoroughly confident, has not spent more than an hour on court in either match, and carries the kind of assurance you associate with a champion.
Match Results: Aryna Sabalenka
Kamilla Rakhimova Player Overview
Rakhimova has reached the third round of the US Open before, back in 2021, and has not gone that far at the tournament since. Heading into New York, Kamilla was not regarded as a serious force on hard courts, alternating decent results with early exits. In New York, though, she has looked like a different player. She is competing with a nothing-to-lose attitude, and that freedom of mind has produced remarkable results.
Her standout performance was a stunning first-round win over the solid Barbora Krejčíková, 7-6, 6-2. Rakhimova showed tremendous tenacity from the baseline and forced the Czech into errors. She then dismantled Oksana Selekhmeteva, bagelling her in the second set, 6-3, 6-0. She arrives at this match against the world number one in peak confidence, though a positive mindset alone may not be enough here.
Match Results: Kamilla Rakhimova
Key factors
- The Belarusian has won 4 of her last 5 matches, all in straight sets.
- Sabalenka has conceded no more than 6 games in either of her previous two matches at the US Open.
- The gap in ranking and level between the two players gives reason to expect a one-sided match.
Expected scenario
Rakhimova will look to drag Sabalenka into long, grinding rallies and hope the favourite makes unforced errors. Camilla can be patient from the baseline. But on a surface this fast, everything depends on Aryna. If the world number one's serve is firing and there is no sudden mental lapse, her power should simply overwhelm whatever defensive resistance Rakhimova offers. Camilla may push back early, but Sabalenka's class and power are expected to tell in two sets.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Sabalenka is in such remarkable form right now that she is simply overwhelming opponents on the fast courts of New York, barely giving them a sniff at break points. Camilla has produced a minor surprise at this tournament, but she has no real answer to the Belarusian's power, ball-striking density and pace. Rakhimova's defensive style and relatively modest serve are easy targets for the aggressive returning of the world number one. Aryna should seize the initiative immediately, take a couple of breaks in each set and close out the match with something like 6-2, 6-3 or even more comfortably. Our pick - Camilla Rakhimova Total Games - Under 6.5.
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Betting Tips: Aryna Sabalenka - Kamilla Rakhimova
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