2012 triumph gives timely lift to Azarenka

The world No 1 meets Romania’s Monica Niculescu tomorrow as she bids to repeat her feat of 12 months ago, when she landed her first grand slam title.

Rather than dwell on the past, though, the Belarusian is simply focusing on starting 2013 in positive fashion.

“I’m not here to defend the title, I am here to win, to play tennis,” she said. “It’s my position, my mentality going into the tournament.”

Azarenka admits, however, that her win here last year, when she crushed Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the final, proved a turning point in her career.

“It gave me more self-belief,” she added. “I always thought of myself as a really good player but that mental edge I had made the difference. It definitely helps to bring a lot of inner confidence, knowing you can do it.”

Despite being top of the world rankings and the defending champion, Azarenka is not the title favourite. That honour belongs to Serena Williams who has emerged victorious in 52 of her last 54 matches – a run which saw her win Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal and the US Open in a blistering end to 2012.

Her form has prompted talk of the American targeting a Grand Slam this season.

She said: “That’s an incredible goal. It hasn’t been done since the 80s. I don’t know if I can do it.”

Sharapova opens proceedings on Rod Laver Arena today when she takes on Russian countrywoman Olga Puchkova.

The second seed was forced to skip the warm-up event in Brisbane due to a collar-bone injury and she admits her lack of match practice may mean a different mental approach.

“I think you have to give yourself extra slack in case you do make a few more errors,” she said. “But just because you’re rusty doesn’t mean you’re not going to play well.”

British No 1 Heather Watson is also in action today when she takes on Romania’s Alexandra Cadantu.