Best morning of my life: Australia champ Aryna Sabalenka

Oz Open champion Aryna Sabalenka with her silverware at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

New Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka didn't get much sleep Saturday night after a rambunctious come-from-behind victory, but you wouldn't have known it early on the morning after. "I still feel like I'm on another planet trying to understand what just happened," Sabalenka replied to a question from AFP while revelling in a photo shoot at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. "I think it's the best morning of my life. It's so beautiful."

Resplendent in a glamorous pink dress and wearing high heels instead of her usual tennis pumps, Sabalenka took to a boat and glided around a lake with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup clutched firmly in hand.

The powerful Belarusian, who will become World No.2 on Monday, showed a new side to her personality, posing effortlessly in front of the cameras. She even managed a few high kicks, despite being understandably stiff after being taken to three gruelling sets less than 12 hours earlier by Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

"How are you still managing to do that?" she was asked. "I have no idea," a slightly wincing but ebullient Sabalenka laughed, before cracking open a bottle of champagne and spraying it in celebration, Formula One-style. "I like to pose. Especially when you're a champion," she chuckled.

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