Melbourne magic: Sabalenka celebrates at Carlton Gardens

“The first one was the hardest one, it’s more emotional, playing the first final was really emotional for me, it was [a] really tough battle,” she said. 

“Second was still hard, it’s another pressure, it’s other emotions, but if we’re talking about these two, I think the first one was the hardest one but this one still wasn’t easy.” 

The 25-year-old said she’s still digesting the fact that she was able to defend her AO 2023 title.  

"These couple of weeks been a bit of pressure for me, but since last year I kind of changed my mentality and my approach to tennis. 

“Since then it's [easier] to handle the pressure because we're having so much fun off the court, just trying to work hard when I'm on the court but off the court, just try to forget tennis life and stay away from it and then as soon as I am on the court, I am full on."