Sabalenka eyes more Grand Slam success

World number one Aryna Sabalenka says she is "fresh and ready to go" in her bid for a third straight Australian Open title, warning she has plenty of room for improvement.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a sensational 2024, reaching seven finals and winning four titles, including the US Open.

Her year was kickstarted by defending her Australian Open crown, beating China's high-flying Zheng Qinwen in the final.

Should she win it again, she will become the first woman to claim three straight Melbourne Park singles titles since Martina Hingis between 1997-1999.

"I feel fresh and ready to go," the Belarusian said, according to the WTA website Thursday, after arriving for the Brisbane International which starts on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open from January 12.

"I love Australia and I always come here hungry and always come here ready.

"I feel all the support here, and I think that's the best thing about Australia, that people are really, really, into tennis."

Sabalenka also began 2024 in Brisbane, reaching the final without losing a set only to crash to Kazakstan's Elena Rybakina in the decider.

She spent time in the off-season at her home in Florida before heading to the Middle East to prepare for Australia and will use the Brisbane tournament to fine-tune her Grand Slam preparations.

"You work hard on lots of things in the pre-season," she said.

"The first tournament before the major tournament is the one where you can try it out and see what's going to work well for you, and what's not."

Despite her rise through the ranks to be the player to beat heading into 2025, Sabalenka said there were still parts of her game that need work.

"Oh, there is so many things to improve," she said.

"I mean, I'm not that good with maybe my game at the net in singles. There is a lot of things to improve in my touch game.

"There is so many things, even my serve is not as good as I want it to be, so there is always (elements) to improve." AFP

Rybakina ready to put Ivanisevic insight to the test

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina expressed confidence Thursday that her new partnership with Novak Djokovic's former coach Goran Ivanisevic will pay dividends, starting at the mixed-teams United Cup.

The world number six completed a Dubai training block with the Croat before joining her Kazakhstan compatriots for the Perth leg of the 18-nation tournament, which starts the 2025 season and is also being played in Sydney.

Kazakhstan face Spain in the opening tie on Friday, with Rybakina a favourite against 54th-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The match will be the first test of her new collaboration with the 53-year-old Ivanisevic, who parted ways last season with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

"We had a couple of weeks together, Goran's a fun guy," said Rybakina, the beaten finalist in the 2023 Australian Open. "I can't say (too) much about our work, but we had a good preparation.

"Not much time has passed but I'm already getting experience from him, especially as a player, how he used to prepare.

"I'm learning every day, I'm feeling much better physically and hopefully we can do well here," she said after an injury-marred 2024.

Ivanisevic came on board with Rybakina in November after Djokovic shook up his team as he hits the twilight of a remarkable career, replacing him with Andy Murray.

Rybakina is looking to make up for last season's disappointment after winning three titles in her first eight tournaments before being sidelined by a back problem and illness.

The 25-year-old skipped the late-season Asian swing before she returned at the WTA Finals, where she defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

The entire Kazakh squad are newcomers to the United Cup, now in its third edition. They bonded with a Christmas dinner and are liking their chances.

"This is my first time on a team," Rybakina said. "There are not a lot of team events so I'm hyped about this one. I hope we will have great chances.

"It's nice to change the schedule a bit at the start of the year. Here you can face good players, I'm looking forward to the start."

In Friday's other tie, Brazil face China, who are without world number five Zheng Qinwen after she pulled out of the tournament saying she needed more rest ahead of the Australian Open from January 12.

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