MELBOURNE, Australia – World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka produced a near-perfect performance to win her second consecutive Australian Open title, defeating China’s Zheng Qianwen 6-3, 6-2 in the women’s final on Saturday.
Dominant from the start, the defending champion broke her way through Zheng’s service games on three occasions, winning in 1 hour, 16 minutes and becoming the first to go back-to-back in Melbourne since Belarusian compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2012 Became a woman. 2013.
Sabalenka’s second Grand Slam title in a fortnight was impressive, winning 14 out of 14 sets and losing just 31 games throughout the tournament.
Zheng, the 12th seed from Australia, was playing in her first Grand Slam final and was feeling the pressure from her first service game. Sabalenka broke for a 2–0 lead and, despite the conditions allowing a break at the right time, rallied to save three break point opportunities and quickly hold on to a 3–0 lead.
For the remainder of the first set, Sabalenka stuck to her service game, winning all but one point on her first serve and denying Zheng any further break points.
The second set started much the same; Sabalenka broke three Zheng double faults in the first game. This gave Sabalenka the lead in the second set, which she immediately took advantage of and put the match almost out of reach.
The protest briefly delayed the match as Zheng began to gain momentum on serve, but like the first set, it was too late.
Sabalenka’s serve was broken again in the fifth game and she served for the match shortly after – her five games being the fewest games in an Australian Open final since Azarenka lost three games in 2012.
Sabalenka said she was thrilled with her level of play in the final and throughout the fortnight in Melbourne and was relieved that she was able to show that her one Grand Slam title was no fluke.
“(Zheng) is a great player and a very tough opponent. I’m very happy that I was able to get this win today,” she said at the post-match press conference. “I wanted to show that I’m able to be out there consistently and that I’m able to win another (Grand Slam). I’m really hopeful that (I can win more than two right now), but for me it’s really important. Was.
“It’s on my mind that I don’t want to be that player who wins (one) and then disappears.”
She said the experience of playing in bigger matches – including a loss to Coco Gauff in last year’s US Open final – had prepared her “emotionally” for a fast start, but she never gave up.
“Compared to last year, it’s completely different for me,” Sabalenka said. “I’m more controlled and…don’t let other things come to mind and I’m focusing on myself.”
He His reputation as one of the world’s premier hard-court players has grown; Of the 14 titles he has won, 12 have been on hard courts, including his two Grand Slams in Melbourne.
Despite her success on hard surfaces, Sabalenka said she continues to work on becoming an all-court player and a player who can regularly challenge for majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
“I think last year I proved that I can play on every surface,” she said. “I definitely think that if I keep working the way I’m working right now, and if we keep building what we’re building right now, I’ll definitely be able to do the same on clay And on the grass.”
Meanwhile, Zheng said that her “slow” start had caused her to play from behind from the start, adding that losing a break to Sabalenka had made it very difficult to get back into the match.
“I think the difference is the start. I couldn’t hold down the service game,” Zheng said. “Then later, when I got a chance to break her 40-love and I couldn’t do it. That little moment makes the match very different. If you don’t take that chance, the match is over) Really fast away. He’s a really aggressive player. If you let a chance go, it’ll be like today.”
Zheng said she was not too nervous going into her first Grand Slam final but admitted she needed to work on some things, including her mental toughness in big moments.
“I have to work more on my tennis, work more on my mental side, work more on myself to be able to recover from this moment,” he said. “Because if you lose, there’s going to be a reason why you lose, and we have to try to figure out why and then come back stronger and better next time.”
With the win, Sabalenka retained her world No. 2 ranking, surpassing world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, while Zheng reached her career-high No. 7.
