The top favorite has hardly any problems with her opponent Zheng Quinwen and clearly wins in two sets.
Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open for the second time in a row. The world number two from Belarus clearly won the final in Melbourne 6:3, 6:2 against the Chinese Zheng Quinwen and thus defended the title that she won for the first time in 2023. It is also the second Grand Slam title for the 25-year-old.
Sabalenka remained without losing a set throughout the tournament and converted her fifth match point after just 76 minutes.
In Sabalenka, the player won the first Grand Slam title of the year, having dominated the event on the Yarra River almost at will for two weeks. Starting with the clear 6:0, 6:1 against German qualifier Ella Seidel, Sabalenka stormed through the tournament. The American US Open champion Coco Gauff was also unable to pose a threat to Sabalenka in the semifinals. World number one Iga Swiatek from Poland was surprisingly eliminated in the third round.
33 minutes for the first set
Sabalenka also set the pace from the start in the final. The favorite managed a quick break, with her powerful groundstrokes and strong serve she gave Zheng Qinwen no chance. The loud support of the many Chinese spectators in the Rod Laver Arena also helped the world number 15. not. After 33 minutes, Sabalenka took the first set.
Zheng Qinwen was the first Chinese woman to reach the final since Li Na ten years ago. Your great tennis idol won the title in Melbourne in 2014 and thus finally became a superstar in her home country. Zheng Qinwen was far from repeating this triumph on Saturday.
Sabalenka also had everything under control in the second set. The Belarusian managed another quick break, also because Zheng Qinwen made three double faults. The Chinese tried to hold back and also managed some nice points. But the 21-year-old didn’t have a real chance against the overpowering defending champions. Sabalenka did not allow herself to be disturbed by a short interruption at the beginning of the second set due to a spectator’s pro-Palestine protest.