“Every time I go out there, I feel like ‘OK, let’s go’. Let’s see who is ready for the pressure moments.
“It’s actually helping me to stay in the moment and fight, no matter what, on the court.”
Sabalenka lost to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in last year’s quarter-finals after being hampered by a stomach bug.
“I’ll definitely not be going to go for the same meal I had before that match. The lesson is learned,” Sabalenka joked on Friday.
Sabalenka, who has won two Australian Opens and one US Open, starts her bid against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Sunday.
Sabalenka has been put in the same half of the draw as Polish fifth seed Swiatek – meaning they could meet in the semi-finals.
