Sabalenka reached the final at Flushing Meadows last year, losing to Coco Gauff in three sets.

She started the year in impressive form, defending her Australian Open title without dropping a set and taking just 76 minutes to beat Zheng Qinwen in the final.

She has often been seen joking with her coaching team and began a pre-match tradition of writing her signature on her fitness trainer Jason Stacy's head in Melbourne.

Sabalenka said her personality comes from her father, Sergey, a former ice hockey player who died in 2019 and who she counts as her biggest motivation.

"I wish he would be still alive. I think we would have so much fun together right now," she said.

"Before, I was probably too much into tennis and trying to be too focused, putting myself under so much pressure.

"Lately, I just realised that this is not how things work. You have to balance this hard work, these expectations, pressure, and everything, with [a] little joy.

"You have to find things which bring you joy, and I have my crazy team and we have so much fun together."

The US Open begins on Monday, with heavy title favourite Sabalenka opening her campaign against qualifier Priscilla Hon.