The first favorites have already been kicked out of the Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka, on the other hand, is in top form. This was proven in the 3rd round.
Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka remains undeterred on the way to defending her title at the Australian Open. The Belarusian confidently reached the round of 16 on Friday. She gave the 28th seeded Ukrainian Lesja Tsurenko no chance with a 6-0, 6-0 win in just 52 minutes.
Sabalenka (25), who won her only Grand Slam title to date in Melbourne a year ago, is in top form at the first major tournament of the year and has not lost a set in three games. “I’m super happy with the level I’m playing at the moment,” said Sabalenka: “Hopefully I can keep it up.”
In the round of 16, the world number two will meet the American Amanda Anisimova, who impressed on her return to the Grand Slam stage after mental problems last year and defeated the Spanish Paula Badosa 7:5, 6:4.
Child prodigy catches up
Child prodigy Mirra Andrejewa also continues to inspire. The 16-year-old Russian was close to elimination against Frenchwoman Diane Parry. Parry was leading 5-1 in the third set and even had a match point. But Andrejewa made a phenomenal comeback and won 1:6, 6:1, 7:6 (10:5).
The Russian, who eliminated world number six Ons Jabeur with an outstanding performance in the second round, reached the round of 16 for the second time at a Grand Slam. There she will meet ninth-seeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova or Australian Storm Hunter.
Meanwhile, US Open champion Coco Gauff didn’t show any weakness and reached the next round with an easy 6:0, 6:2 against her American compatriot Alycia Parks.