As the first woman to do it in more than a decade, Aryna Sabalenka created waves at the Australian Open by skillfully defending her championship. In a dominant display of skill and willpower, the Belarusian powerhouse outclassed her opponent, Zheng Qinwen of China.
In a just 76 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, the second-ranked player in the world, Sabalenka, easily defeated the 12th seed, winning 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka demonstrated her supremacy throughout the competition, winning all seven of her sets.
Victoria Azarenka, a Belarusian lady, achieved the historic feat of successfully defending her title in the Australian Open in 2013. With three final appearances, two triumphs, and a semi-final participation in her previous six majors, Sabalenka's recent victory further establishes her as a prominent contender in Grand Slam events.
Sabalenka made Zheng struggle to stay up with her strong groundstrokes and steady serve. Zheng couldn't match Sabalenka's caliber of play, despite her remarkable run to her first Grand Slam final and her lack of ranked opponents during the event.
Sabalenka set the tone for her dominance early in the encounter by breaking Zheng's serve. Zheng had moments of brilliance, but she was unable to match Sabalenka's accurate shots and strong serves.
Sabalenka maintained her composure and won the first set in just 33 minutes, despite some opposition from Zheng. With even more unrelenting pressure, Sabalenka took an early lead in the second set and went on to secure a break.
Even though Zheng put up a strong fight and saved some championship points, Sabalenka won in the end and captured her 14th career title. Zheng will place among the top 10 in the upcoming global rankings despite the loss, because to her outstanding performance throughout the competition.
With her historic victory at the Australian Open, Sabalenka solidified her place among the game's rising stars, and her admirers can't wait to see what she does next on the court.
