Aryna Sabalenka showcased her tennis prowess by clinching her second consecutive Australian Open women’s title with a commanding victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final. The Belarusian player displayed her signature powerful groundstrokes right from the start, overpowering the 12th-seeded Zheng and maintaining control throughout the 76-minute match. Sabalenka’s remarkable tournament journey included not dropping a single set, solidifying her reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
The final saw Sabalenka make a strong opening, securing a love hold in the first game and breaking Zheng in the second. Despite Zheng’s attempts to stage a comeback, Sabalenka defended adeptly, comfortably winning the first set in just 33 minutes. The second set witnessed Zheng grappling with her serve, committing three double faults in the initial game, allowing Sabalenka to secure an early break. Sabalenka’s dominance extended to her powerful serve, losing only six points on her first serve throughout the match.
Zheng, to her credit, fought hard, saving four championship points in a valiant effort. However, Sabalenka’s consistent play and powerful serve proved insurmountable, ultimately securing her the title. This victory marked Sabalenka’s second Grand Slam title and a historic achievement as the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13 to win two consecutive Australian Open titles.
While Sabalenka celebrated her triumph, the tournament was also significant for Zheng, who reached her first Grand Slam final and is poised to enter the top 10 of the world rankings at No. 7. Sabalenka expressed her joy and disbelief at winning the trophy again, emphasizing the incredible journey of the past weeks. With her dominant performance, Sabalenka joined the ranks of Serena Williams in 2007 as the first woman since then to win the Australian Open final without dropping a single service game.
