© Getty Photos Sport – Quinn Rooney
Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka insists she just isn’t involved in regards to the prospect of not defending her title at Melbourne Park and shedding rating factors.
After shedding in three Grand Slam semifinals, Sabalenka made her first Slam closing on the 2023 Australian Open. Within the closing at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka got here again from a set to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 to carry her maiden Grand Slam title.
Since profitable the 2023 Australian Open title, Sabalenka has been constantly ranked contained in the top-2 on the planet. Sabalenka, who was changed by Iga Swiatek on the world No. 1 spot after the 2023 WTA Finals, is returning to the Australian Open this January as a defending Grand Slam champion for the primary time in her profession.
“Worst case, what occurs? I’ll lose a Grand Slam, lose some factors, drop a bit of bit within the rating. There’s so many tournaments forward. I’ll attempt to do my finest to be in one other Grand Slam or in different tournaments,” Sabalenka stated in her pre-tournament press convention in Brisbane.
Sabalenka taking part in in Brisbane main as much as the Australian Open
Sabalenka, 25, is beginning her 2024 season on the Brisbane Worldwide. Sabalenka, the top-seeded participant within the Brisbane predominant draw, has a first-round bye on the match. After a first-round bye, Sabalenka will play both Lucia Bronzetti or Ashlyn Krueger in her Brisbane opener.
In Brisbane, the 25-year-old Belarusian is making her debut look. Sabalenka is highlighting this 12 months’s Brisbane participant subject and with second-seeded Rybakina, the Belarusian is the highest favourite for the Brisbane title.
Final season, Sabalenka was good in Australia because the world No. 2 received back-to-back titles on the Adelaide Worldwide and the Australian Open and went 11-0. At this 12 months’s Australian summer season, Sabalenka is once more one of many high contenders to do nicely and make a deep Australian Open run.
