© Getty Images Sport – Quinn Rooney
Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka insists she is not concerned about the prospect of not defending her title at Melbourne Park and losing ranking points.
After losing in three Grand Slam semifinals, Sabalenka made her first Slam final at the 2023 Australian Open. In the final at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka came back from a set to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 to lift her maiden Grand Slam title.
Since winning the 2023 Australian Open title, Sabalenka has been consistently ranked inside the top-2 in the world. Sabalenka, who was replaced by Iga Swiatek at 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 first time in her career.
“Worst case, what happens? I’m going to lose a Grand Slam, lose some points, drop a little bit in the ranking. There’s so many tournaments ahead. I’m going to try to do my best to be in another Grand Slam or in other tournaments,” Sabalenka said in her pre-tournament press conference in Brisbane.
