Australian Open 2024: ‘Pure dominance’

An authoritative Aryna Sabalenka blew China’s Zheng Qinwen off court docket on Saturday to efficiently defend her Australian Open title – the primary lady to take action in additional than a decade.

The Belarusian world No 2 proved too highly effective for the twelfth seed with a 6-3, 6-2 drubbing in 76 minutes to say her second Grand Slam crown on Rod Laver Area.

It capped an unimaginable show of energy and poise from Sabalenka over the previous fortnight, with the 25-year-old surging to the title with out shedding a set via her seven matches.

The final time the event witnessed a profitable ladies’s title defence was in 2013, when fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka achieved the feat.

Along with her newest exploits, Sabalenka cemented her fame as one of many sport’s most constant contenders at Grand Slams, reaching at the least the semi-finals in her previous six majors, making three finals and profitable twice.

In vivid crimson, she overwhelmed Zheng together with her crushing groundstrokes deep into each corners and a constantly dependable serve.

Zheng had reached her first Grand Slam remaining with out assembly a seed after a number of gamers crashed out early on her aspect of the draw, and the gulf at school was shortly uncovered.

The Belarusian opened with a cushty serve then received a have a look at two break factors at 15-40 in Zheng’s opening service sport when the Chinese language star sprayed a backhand broad.

She seized the possibility, attacking her opponent’s second serve for the break.

Sabalenka consolidated on serve for 3-0, however solely after saving three break factors as Zheng’s nerves settled and she or he labored to get into the competition.

The Chinese language star lastly received on the board as her serve hit its mark in sport 4, with two large unreturnable aces and a forehand winner giving her confidence.

However she had few solutions to the booming Sabalenka serve, struggling to get the ball again over the online and into any rallies.

Zheng saved three set factors with a pair of aces and a winner to carry for 3-5, nevertheless it was delaying the inevitable as Sabalenka closed out the set on serve in 33 minutes.

Three double faults, together with on break level, instantly put Zheng on the again foot on the second set because the strain took its toll.

And there was no method again as she conceded one other break to droop 4-1 behind when Sabalenka prefectly performed a drop shot.

Preventing till the top, Zheng saved 4 championship factors earlier than the second seed closed out the match to financial institution her 14th profession title.

Regardless of the loss, it has been a breakthrough event for Zheng, who will transfer into the world’s prime 10 when the brand new rankings are launched subsequent week.

Sabalenka will stay second on the earth rankings behind Iga Swiatek, who crashed out within the third spherical.

Right here’s a have a look at the reactions to Sabalenka’s victory:

With textual content inputs from AFP