Sabalenka Over Heartbreak of Australian Open Final

Aryna Sabalenka said the grief she felt after falling short in her bid for a third successive Australian Open crown was subsiding following her second-round win at the Indian Wells Open on March 8.

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INDIAN WELLS - Aryna Sabalenka said the grief she felt after falling short in her bid for a third successive Australian Open crown was subsiding following her second-round win at the Indian Wells Open on March 8.

The world No. 1 had smashed her racket and covered her face with a towel and sobbed after losing to American Madison Keys in the final at Melbourne Park in January.

The Belarusian suffered early exits at the Qatar Open and in Dubai since but was in full command of her formidable serve on March 8, never facing a break point as she overpowered talented American McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

"I'd say that after the final in Australia, I was really heartbroken," she told reporters.

"It was very difficult to recover after that one, and Middle East I was, kind of like, in my thoughts, I was trying to understand.