Striving for her third successive Australian Open crown, Aryna Sabalenka is right where she wants to be.
As well as defending champion, the Belarusian enters this year's grand slam as world No.1 and says she thrives under the pressure of carrying those two mantles.
"I like that feeling - that's what drives me and help me to stay motivated because I know that I have target on my back," the 26-year-old said on Friday at Melbourne Park
"I really like to have it. That's why I work really hard; to make sure that nobody can get to me."
Starting her Open against out-of-form ex-US Open champion Sloane Stephens, Sabalenka can join an elite group of female players who have claimed the Australian title hat-trick in the professional era.
Having not lost a grand slam match on a hard court since the 2023 US Open, when she fell in three sets in the final against Coco Gauff, and on the back of another Brisbane International title, she's hot favourite to maintain the streak.
Martina Hingis in 1999 was the last to achieve the feat, following in the footsteps of legends Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Margaret Court.
"Of course, I know that I have possibility of joining legends by winning three times in a row," the three-time major champion said.
"I don't want to overthink about that. I just want to do my job and hopefully by the end of this tournament I'll be super proud of myself and I'll be able to put my name in the history."
Sabalenka took over the top ranking from Polish five-time major winner Iga Swiatek last September and finished the year as No.1, but said the ranking didn't guarantee success.
Swiatek and third-ranked Gauff are expected to be among the challengers in Melbourne, while China's Qinwen Zheng proved her run to last year's title match was no fluke, winning two titles to enter the tournament as fifth seed.
"You still have to go out there, you still have to compete, you still have to prove it every day, that you deserve to be where you are," Sabalenka said.
In six appearances in Melbourne, Swiatek has only advanced past the fourth round once - a semi-final appearance in 2022 - and made a third round exit last year.
She was banned for a month late last year after unintentionally taking melatonin tainted with a banned substance but felt that it was more a mental than physical blow.
She looked sharp in Polish colours during the United Cup
"Besides the fact I couldn't play, this was the worst thing for me, like what people would say," said the 23-year-old, who has drawn Czech Katerina Siniakova in round one.
"Because I always worked hard to be a good example, to show my integrity, show good behaviour.
"I'm happy that I'm kind of done with it and I can play tennis and be here."
Losing to Sabalenka in last year's semi-final, Gauff looms as the biggest threat.
She ended 2024 with 13 wins from 15 matches and led the USA to a season-opening United Cup triumph while the 20-year-old also downed Sabalenka in straight sets in the WTA Finals en route to the trophy.
The American will play her first match against compatriot, 2020 Open champion, Sofia Kenin.
