Madison Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden grand slam title, but the Belarusian insists she did not wilt under pressure.

Aryna Sabalenka insists the pressure of chasing an Australian Open three-peat was not to blame for Saturday's shock final defeat to Madison Keys.

The world number one and two-time defending champion entered the Melbourne Park showpiece having won 20 straight matches at the event.

She was chasing three consecutive titles at hard-court majors and aiming to become just the sixth woman to win three straight editions of the Australian Open.

Margaret Court (1969-1971), Evonne Goolagong (1974- 976), Steffi Graf (1988-1990), Monica Seles (1991-1993) and Martina Hingis (1997-1999) had previously achieved that feat.

Sabalenka fell short of joining that list as Keys claimed a dramatic 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena, but she believes her defeat was down to tactics, not the burden of being favourite or trying to make history.

"Maybe before the game I was thinking about that, as I didn't want to block those stats," Sabalenka told reporters at her post-match press conference.

"When you try to block something, it's growing bigger and bigger. Of course I was thinking about that.

"But the moment I stepped on court, I was just trying to focus on the game and things I have to do to win this match.

"It's a final of a grand slam anyway. I wouldn't say that it was something to do with pressure. It was just the tactics and the way I started the match wasn't the best way.

"It had nothing to do with pressure. You always play with the pressure. It's something you're used to living with."

Sabalenka's game was particularly off in the first set, during which she served four double faults to zero aces and, when she could get her first serve in, only won 43% of those points.

She added: "Maybe I could start a little bit better. It seemed like my legs were off at the beginning of the match. I was on the back foot all the time. I didn't serve my best at all.

"Tactically I'd say I didn't play my best at the beginning of the match. If I could change anything, I would try to start a little bit better with my movement.

"Maybe be a little bit more aggressive and not try to just play too passive, you know, and play my game no matter what."

Sabalenka tipped Keys to reach the top five of the WTA world rankings when asked if the American was the most powerful player she had faced at the Australian Open.

"Today, yes. Today was very fast, very deep, very aggressive. Yeah, that was a great level from her," she said.

"As I said, if she can continue playing the way she was playing today, yeah, she can be one of the top five."