The world number one was surprisingly beaten in three sets by Madison Keys in last month's Melbourne showpiece and says that missing out on a third consecutive title Down Under was difficult to swallow.

Sabalanka said ahead of her return to action at the Qatar Open: "This one was the toughest one. I think for a week I was still thinking about that match.

"Honestly, looking back and thinking about those two lost games [in the final set], I didn't do anything wrong, she just played out of her mind, and it was her day - there's nothing to regret.

"I think right now I'm fully recovered after that tough match."

The Belarusian is determined to bounce back in Qatar as she begins her preparation for the US Sunshine Double of the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open.

Sabalenka said: "The schedule is actually pretty tough, especially if you make it to the last stage of the Australian Open, then you don't have much time to recover and prepare yourself for these big events.

"I believe I'll just take these two tournaments as preparation for the Sunshine one, and I'll try to build my tennis, and probably take my tennis to the next level in these two events."

The three-time Grand Slam champion also praised Belinda Bencic - who won the Abu Dhabi Open recently just 10 months after giving birth to her daughter.

Sabalenka said: "That's impressive, honestly. She just came back. I think [at the] Australian Open she had a great run [to the fourth round] and now she's holding the trophy.

"It's amazing, I'm super happy for her, she definitely deserved that.

"As she said, she worked really hard for that, and it's good to see. It gives us hope that probably, whenever we’re all going to go for babies, we have a chance to come back if we want to."