Cloud 9 looks an awful lot like Melbourne, Australia for Aryna Sabalenka. The newly crowned Australian Open champion stepped out on the town on Sunday as a Grand Slam winner for the first time, and took her trophy for a spin in front of one of the city's most scenic backdrops.
Sabalenka, who'll return to No. 2 in the Hologic WTA Tour rankings Monday, took the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup on a tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, complete with a gondola ride.
Sabalenka holds off Rybakina to win Australian Open, first Slam title
Aryna x Daphne 🏆@SabalenkaA • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/HAjJLevNvl
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
Clad in a blush-pink dress and blue high heels, Sabalenka didn't look out of place among Melbourne's prettiest scenery; her outfit also featured floral details at the neck, arms and hemline.
She posed for the cameras with both the trophy and a bottle of champagne and told a small group of assembled reporters that she was still living the dream less than 24 hours after coming from behind to defeat Elena Rybakina in a classic three-set championship match inside Rod Laver Arena.
'A joy to watch': Social media reacts to Australian Open final
"This is my day today. Just me and my trophy!" 🤩@SabalenkaA | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/wywhgggy4n
— wta (@WTA) January 29, 2023
"I still feel like I'm on another planet, trying to understand what's just happened," Sabalenka said. "It's the best morning of my life. It's so beautiful."
"I like to pose, especially when you're a Grand Slam champion." 😅@SabalenkaA | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/SIMBti43Na
— wta (@WTA) January 29, 2023
Check out the best photos from Sabalenka's trophy tour below.