Aryna Sabalenka 'addicted to wins' as she turns attention to Dubai Tennis Championships

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has described how she is “addicted to wins” after arriving in the UAE for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The world No 2 successfully defended her title at Melbourne Park last month with a demolition job over Zheng Qinwen in the final as Sabalenka carried over her superb from the previous campaign into the new season's opening Grand Slam.

Sabalenka – who has put together a streak of six consecutive majors in which she has made it to at least the semi-finals – is back in action for the first time since beating Zheng, when she faces Donna Vekic in Round 2 in Dubai on Tuesday.

And the Belarusian admitted admits she is still “shocked” about being able to retain her title Down Under – but is already focused on achieving more of the same.

“My mindset is to keep doing what I'm doing, keep fighting, keep working. After my career, to look back and think, ‘Whoa, I was able to achieve that. That's crazy’,” Sabalenka said on Sunday.

“I'm not the type of person who is going to win something and stop. Like I said, I'm addicted to wins. I felt like it's just something in my blood and I keep doing, keep working, and hopefully keep winning.

“It's been an amazing time [since winning in Australia]. I was super excited. We celebrate my win – our win. Yeah, we had so much fun. Yeah, I'm still emotional about that. I think it's the best thing you can ever, ever get. But, as I say, it's already in the past and I need to focus on the next one.”

Sabalenka admitted that it was a different feeling regaining the title in January compared to securing what was her first major crown the previous year.

“Last year it was, like, the first Slam, super excited, new feeling. This year, as a defending