Aryna and Daphne, walking down the river bank...

Twelve months ago, Aryna Sabalenka turned heads in her Australian Open champion's photo shoot, as she wore a striking blush-pink blouse and skirt by Australian designer Zimmermann to pose with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and celebrate her first Grand Slam victory.

The sequel proved equally iconic: On Sunday in Melbourne, Sabalenka stepped out with Daphne in Melbourne again, less than 24 hours after she beat China's Zheng Qinwen to become the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13 to win back-to-back Australian Open titles.

For the reprise, she chose a cream-tinted white dress with a fringed base, and a pair of slingback, open-toed low heels as she strutted around picturesque locales at Melbourne's Carlton Gardens.

Advertising

From a celebratory TikTok to a rousing round of cheers, Sabalenka pulled back the curtain on how she and her team celebrated one of the most dominant title runs in Melbourne's recent memory. She didn't lose a set through seven matches, and was the first player since Serena Williams in 2007 to win the AO title without being broken.

“I had just a little drink, a little sweet, we’ve been dancing, having fun, that’s how we celebrate,” she said. "I have the craziest team."

On the TikTok, she added: “Of course it was my idea,” she said. “I put them under pressure to make this video happen, I felt like we had to do it, we did it last year, so we’re going to keep doing it and I don’t know, I hope it’s for good luck right? We started the tournament with a dance, we finished it with a dance!"

Check out more of the best photos from Sabalenka from her "second home":

Sabalenka clinched her second straight Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zheng Qinwen.

Sabalenka clinched her second straight Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zheng Qinwen.

Advertising

Sabalenka is the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13 to win back-to-back AO titles.

Sabalenka is the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13 to win back-to-back AO titles.

The champion's photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens near Melbourne's city center.

The champion's photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens near Melbourne's city center.

Clad in a cream-colored white dress with a fringed base, Sabalenka served up another ace with her outfit.

Clad in a cream-colored white dress with a fringed base, Sabalenka served up another ace with her outfit.

Advertising

What's a celebration without a little champagne?

What's a celebration without a little champagne?

In addition to posing with the trophy, Sabalenka also shared a sweet moment with an Australian Open ballkid.

In addition to posing with the trophy, Sabalenka also shared a sweet moment with an Australian Open ballkid. 

Sabalenka also posed in front of the Hochgurtel Fountain, the largest and most elaborate fountain in Australia.

Sabalenka also posed in front of the Hochgurtel Fountain, the largest and most elaborate fountain in Australia.

Advertising

“There’s a lot of things to love about Melbourne,” Sabalenka dished as she called the city her "second home" on social media.

“There’s a lot of things to love about Melbourne,” Sabalenka dished as she called the city her "second home" on social media.