At the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka made history by skillfully defending her title. She is the first woman to accomplish this in more than a decade. The Chinese player Zheng Qinwen was subdued by the Belarusian powerhouse in an impressive demonstration of talent and willpower.
On Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka, the second-ranked player in the world, easily defeated the 12th seed, winning 6-3, 6-2 in just 76 minutes. Sabalenka demonstrated her supremacy throughout the competition, winning every set in each of the seven matches she participated in.
The last time a female champion at the Australian Open was victoriously defended was in 2013, when Belarusian Victoria Azarenka achieved the feat. Sabalenka has advanced to the semi-finals of six majors, made three final appearances, and won two of them. Her current victory further establishes her as one of the best competitors in Grand Slam events.
Sabalenka's strong groundstrokes and steady serve made Zheng find it difficult to stay up. Though Zheng did not play against any seeded players in the event prior to reaching her first Grand Slam final, she was unable to match Sabalenka's caliber of play.
Sabalenka's early break of Zheng's serve in the opening exchange of the match established her dominance. Zheng failed to match Sabalenka's precision shots and strong serves, although he showed signs of promise.
Zheng put up a little fight, but Sabalenka held her ground and won the first set in just thirty-three minutes. Sabalenka maintained her unrelenting assault in the second set, winning a break fast to take a commanding lead.
Despite Zheng's heroic efforts to save some championship points, Sabalenka prevailed in the end and won her 14th career title. Zheng's outstanding play throughout the competition will propel her into the top 10 in the next global rankings, even with the loss.
With her incredible victory at the Australian Open, Sabalenka solidified her place among the sport's rising stars, and fans are looking forward to seeing more of her on the court.
