Sabalenka plays down pressure ahead of return after Australian Open: "I still have to prove every time on the court that I’m in the right place"

Aryna Sabalenka will be making her first appearance since winning the Australian Open and she's ready for it with many expecting far more from her now.

Sabalenka finally got her maiden grand slam win after many predicted it to happen years ago. The Belarussian player always had the talent for it but she could never quite get everything right until recently in Melbourne. In her first appearance since the major, Sabalenka will be part of the Dubai event where all the best are playing.

Speaking ahead of the event she said that she plans to focuns on herself mostly:

“I would like to just focus on myself because I think the only thing why I won the Australian Open is because I was focusing on myself. I didn’t really think about all the expectations, all the things happening around. I kept telling myself that I have to bring my level on court, I have a lot of chances to win the match.”

She doesn't think being a major winner changes much. She still wants to prove herself:

“I still have to work hard. I still have to prove every time on the court that I’m in the right place. Nothing changed much. It’s just really nice to achieve your goal but I still have to work, so nothing has changed much.”