BRISBANE — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka insisted she is not motivated by revenge after relinquishing her Australian Open crown in a shock loss to American Madison Keys last year, while Keys said she is embracing the added pressure of launching the season’s first Grand Slam as the defending champion.
Sabalenka went into the final at Melbourne Park aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis to win three consecutive Australian Opens.
But she was undone by Keys, who won her maiden Slam in an inspired performance on Rod Laver Arena.
The Belarusian said there was no difference coming to Australia as the champion or as the runner-up. “It doesn’t matter which tournament it is,” she said.
“If I’m defending champion, if I lost in the first-round last year, the goal is always the same – to bring my best tennis and to improve my game.
“Honestly, that’s it. I always just focus on myself, on developing my game, and making sure that I’m 100 per cent there.”
Sabalenka had an unusual lead-in to the Australian Open starting this month, playing Nick Kyrgios in a much-criticised “Battle of the Sexes” in Dubai.
But she said she was glad to be back in Australia, where she enjoys the conditions and has had great success. “I definitely don’t like the heat, but the people, yeah,” she said according to AFP.
“I think the atmosphere – it’s always a full crowd (in Brisbane). Everyone really engages a lot with tennis. Also in Melbourne, the support there is incredible.
“I’m always super motivated when I come to Australia,” she said, asked if last year’s defeat to Keys was added incentive this time.
“Of course, remembering last year’s final, I really want to do just a little bit better than I did last year,” she added with a smile.
Sabalenka said she always chose to open her season in Brisbane because she was guaranteed testing matches.
This year’s draw features seven of the world’s top 10. “It’s a tough draw, a lot of great players,” she said.
“It’s a lot of matches before hitting the Australian Open.”
Keys pulled off a shock in the Australian Open final last year when she beat top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set classic to win her maiden major title aged 29.
The world No 7 said that while she felt the weight of expectation heading into her title defence in Melbourne this month, she is determined to enjoy it.
“There is obviously a lot of pressure that comes with doing as well as I did last year,” the American said.
“But not very many people get to go into this swing being a defending champion. So, I’m trying really just to appreciate that and enjoy the position I’ve put myself in.”
Brisbane, which acts as build-up for the Australian Open, features seven of the world’s top 10 women.
“This week has always been one of those weeks where the field is pretty difficult and tough,” said Keys.
“There is not a ton of places for all of us to go and play.
“We’ll inevitably all end up in the same place. I think it always kind of brings out the best in all of us.”
Nick Kyrgios, meanwhile, said he had been a “chaotic mess” throughout his career and now just wants to enjoy himself when he returns to the tour this week.
The temperamental 2022 Wimbledon finalist, one of tennis’ most dynamic players when at the top of his game, makes his comeback at the season-opening Brisbane International.
The 30-year-old Australian has slipped to 671 in the world after an injury-ravaged three years which saw him play only six singles matches on the ATP Tour.
Speaking ahead of his opening-round match, Kyrgios said he was feeling fit and had been playing as well as ever in the build-up.
“I think after every injury I have had the last couple of years, and to see how quickly something can be snatched away from you, I have a day-by-day mindset,” the former world number 13 said.
“I don’t know if I’m a player that needs to prove himself any more than he has. I just want to get through this and be happy with my performance.
“Ultimately I just want to go out there and put on a show for the crowd and for the fans and the people, to be honest.
“I have no agenda and I don’t care what my ranking is, don’t care what titles I win. I just want to go out there and give the people a good show.
“That’s ultimately I guess what I’ll go down as, as an entertainer and someone who just was a bit of a chaotic mess, but an entertainer at the end of the day.”
Kyrgios, who was granted a wildcard to play in Brisbane, begins his tour comeback against US world number 60 Aleksandar Kovacevic.
