Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is set to launch her Australian Open campaign, carrying immense expectations as she faces a unique scenario this year. Unlike prior seasons, she enters the tournament without the burden of a title to defend and is devoid of the dominance that characterized her previous runs at this Grand Slam.
Having clinched the title twice at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka once considered it her domain, achieving an impressive 20-match win streak. However, that momentum was disrupted in last year's final when Madison Keys of the USA delivered a surprising upset, preventing Sabalenka from making history with a third consecutive Australian Open victory—a feat not accomplished since the days of Martina Hingis over twenty years ago.
Despite last year's setback, Sabalenka remains at the pinnacle of women's tennis. Her powerful shots, authoritative serve, and evolving mental toughness continue to distinguish her in a competitive field. The absence of recent triumphs in Melbourne, however, introduces a degree of uncertainty as she embarks on her 2026 journey.
Unlike previous tournaments, Sabalenka does not carry the momentum of an unbeaten streak in Australia. Her early-season results have been promising, yet not without flaws, raising questions about her ability to regain peak performance swiftly.
Pressure typically doesn’t faze Sabalenka. As the top seed, she will once again find herself the target for every challenger hoping to snag a victory. Whether she can mentally rebound and reestablish her dominance on Rod Laver Arena will be one of the most compelling narratives of this year’s Australian Open.
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