Sabalenka seeks rare US Open repeat, Djokovic narrows focus in pursuit of 25th Grand Slam

It has been more than a decade since the US Open had a repeat women's champion -- but world number one Aryna Sabalenka heads into her title defense at Flushing Meadows aiming to buck that trend.

- 

"My thought is to change that," the Belarusian star said Friday as she spoke to reporters at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the final Grand Slam of the season begins on Sunday.

"But, wow, that’s insane, you know, how unpredictable women’s tennis is, right? Should we change it? Should we try at least to change it?”

The last woman to win back-to-back US Open titles was Serena Williams, who won three in a row from 2012 through 2014.

Sabalenka said the pressure to repeat at a Slam is intense, but magnified in the boisterous atmosphere of New York.

"I think it’s a lot of pressure, definitely,” she said.

“Just because this place is so big, and it feels bigger than the other Slams in some ways.

“Maybe every time defending champions come and they put so much pressure on themselves.

"But I feel like I'm experienced enough to just focus on myself and try to replicate that result.”

Sabalenka, 27, says she has grown to love the hubbub of the US Open after finding her early forays in New York “really confusing.”