Sabalenka has come to terms with her defeat at the Australian Open: "I've completely recovered from this painful defeat".
Aryna Sabalenka is getting ready to return to competition. Nearly three weeks after her defeat by Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, the Belarusian world No.1 is set to make her debut at the Doha tournament, where she will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova later today.
In her pre-tournament press conference, Sabalenka reflected on the setback, but believes she has moved on after several difficult days.
"I thought about it for a week. Honestly, looking back and thinking about those two lost sets, I didn't do anything wrong.
Madison just played great, it was her day. I don't think there's anything to regret. I've completely recovered from that painful defeat.
The calendar is really busy, especially if you go all the way to the Australian Open. You don't have much time to recover and prepare for these big events.
I'll take the tournaments in Doha and Dubai as preparation for the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami), always trying to improve my tennis," says Sabalenka.
Australian Open 
Davis Cup: between reforms, criticism and national culture 
When tennis stars change courts: from Noah the singer to Safin the deputy, another match – the battle of reinvention 
As a laboratory for tomorrow’s tennis, does the Next Gen Masters have a future? 
Tennis: the little-known truths about the offseason, between rest, stress and physical survival 
