Aryna Sabalenka ready to summon the tiger inside for Melbourne three-peat bid

"Every time you're out there, you have to compete, you have to fight," she said after beating Russian Polina Kudermetova in the Brisbane final.

THE tiger tattoo On the arm of Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is clear favourite to win a third straight Australian Open title but the Belarusian did not get to be world number one by taking anything for granted.

Unbeaten at Melbourne Park since a fourth round loss to Kaia Kanepi as second seed in 2022, the 26-year-old started her season by claiming her 18th career WTA title in Brisbane on Sunday.