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Sabalenka has reached this year’s semi-finals in Melbourne without dropping a set, taking her winning streak at the start of 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.<\/p>\n
Having lost two Grand Slam finals last year – first in Melbourne and then at the French Open – Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in September and is the heavy favourite to regain her Australian Open title.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: “I think every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing.<\/p>\n
“The mentality is the same, and it’s always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it.<\/p>\n
“But I’m trying to shift my focus on the right things and just trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set. That’s my mentality.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n