Sabalenka reached this year’s semifinals in Melbourne without dropping a set, extending her winning streak that began in early 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.

Sabalenka, who lost twice last year in a Grand Slam final in Melbourne and then at the French Open, defended her US Open crown in September and is now the favorite to reclaim the Australian Open title.

Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: “I think when any player goes into a tournament, it’s either they get a trophy or they don’t get anything.

“The mentality is the same, obviously the desire to win is always in the back of our minds.

“But I’m trying to shift my focus to the right things and just do my best in each match, each point, each game, each set. That’s my mentality.”