Sabalenka defends title at Australian Open

Australia Second seed Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open women's singles title for the second consecutive year, defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the final on January 27.

Sabalenka became the first woman to defend her title in Melbourne since Victoria Azarenka beat Li Na in 2013. Like her compatriot Azarenka, Sabalenka did so by defeating her Chinese opponent in the final. The Belarusian showed her absolute strength when defeating 12th seed Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2.

Sabalenka celebrates winning the 2024 Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on January 27. Photo: Sky — Sabalenka celebrates winning the 2024 Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on January 27. Photo: *Sky*

Sabalenka did not drop a set en route to the title. She won 28 of 29 sets in Melbourne, including her 2023 and 2024 campaigns. The only player to beat Sabalenka in a set at the Australian Open in the past two years was Elena Rybakina in last year's final.

Similar to the meeting in the 2023 US Open quarterfinals, Sabalenka only let Zheng Qinwen win five games. Zheng, in her first Grand Slam final, seemed to be "frozen" by the power of her senior. The Chinese player quickly lost the first service game of the first set and lost 3-6, before repeating the same thing early in the second set due to three double faults in the same game.

Both players have a powerful style of play, but Sabalenka is more powerful and accurate. She hit her first serve 67% of the time, becoming the first player to win a final without losing a service game since Serena Williams in 2007. Using her fifth match point, the world number two claimed her 14th career title, her ninth on hard courts and her second at a Grand Slam.

Zheng had 19 winners, five more than Sabalenka, but still lost quickly after two sets. Photo: Sky — Zheng had 19 winners, five more than Sabalenka, but still lost quickly after two sets. Photo: *Sky*

Zheng, at 21 years and 109 days, is the second-youngest Asian woman to reach a Grand Slam final. The Hubei native missed out on becoming the second Chinese woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, but is certain to break into the world's top 10 for the first time. Zheng will move up to seventh in the WTA rankings next week, while Sabalenka will remain second.

Vy Anh

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