Australian Open: History-hunting Aryna Sabalenka shrugs off pressure

Add as a preferred source on Google

Aryna Sabalenka is focused on having fun, rather than the pressure of being world number one, as she aims for a record-equalling Australian Open title.

Sabalenka cruised into the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park with a 6-1 6-2 defeat of teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva on Sunday (January 19).

In the process, the top seed became the youngest player since Serena Williams in 2004 to win 18 successive grand slam matches on hard courts.

Sabalenka is hunting a share of history at the season's opening major, as she aims to win it for a third straight year. The last woman to do so was Monica Seles between 1995 and 1997.

But Sabalenka is not allowing the pressure to get to her.

"Of course, there's pressure. It doesn't matter if you are number one, two or 10, there is always pressure," she told reporters.

"I think it's all about focusing on yourself, having fun outside of the court, take it easy outside of the court, because there is enough pressure on the court.

"I think it's all about the balance. You have to do stuff that brings you joy in life. Also, you have to go out there, and you have to compete and fight. It's all about balancing these two things.

"When you are young you are focusing too much on outside things. Then with experience, you realise that it actually doesn't matter.

"Whatever happens outside of the tennis court, it's not a big deal. You just have to focus on yourself in the moment and play just point by point."

Sabalenka will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the last four.