Belorussian Arina Sabalenko (2) re-crown in Melbourne without refuse one set throughout the competition, after winning the final Australian Open To China Qinwen Zheng (12) with scores of 6-3 and 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes.
The second player in the world ranking was the first tennis player to successfully defend his title at the Oceanic Majorfrom the conquests of his compatriot Victoria Azarenko in 2012 and 2013.
Photo: Reuters
Sabalenko completed perfect tournamentafter she didn’t give up a single set in her victories over the German Ella SeidelCzech Brenda FrukhvirtovaUkraine Lesya TsurenkoAmerican Amanda AnisimovaCzech Barbora Krejcikova (9), American Coco Gauff (4) and the Chinese Zheng.
It was her second victory over the Asian player after the Belarusian won her only match before the final – in the quarterfinals of the tournament. US Open (2023).
It was this match that became the biggest match for 21-year-old Zheng, who only made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Flushing Meadows as the best result in a Grand Slam tournament heading into this Saturday’s final.
Photo: Reuters
Rod Laver Arena It was almost completely full and had a noticeable presence of Chinese fans who could not stop cheering for the tennis player coached by the Catalan. Pere Ribathroughout the meeting.
Sabalenka, who had extensive experience in such scenarios thanks to two previous major tournament finals, imposed on her frantic paceAccompanied powerful servicesfrom the very beginning of the clash, in which Zheng could not easily go out to rallies.
The Chinese received early failure which she could not correct, losing three points on a counter-break, and the Belarusian, who did not drop her level throughout the entire first set, won the first set 6-3.
The Belarusian finished the first set with 94% of her first serve points, four winners and five unforced errors. Sabalenka’s intensity and depth caused a total of 19 unforced errors.
The same dynamic was repeated in the second set, in which the second seed secured a foothold in the middle, converting a new break that silenced Rod Laver, painted red in some sectors by Chinese flags.
Photo: Reuters
In the first part of the second set the fan was expelled from the stadium, after screaming “Free Palestine”before the Chinese player went to serve.
The sound of Sabalenka’s forehand and backhand caused screams of amazement among Rod Laver’s fans, who experienced a similar sensation with Italy’s Jannik Sinner’s clean forehands during the men’s semi-final against the Serb. Novak Djokovic.
The Chinese, who finished the match with 19 wins and 16 unforced errors, could not find a formula to prevent Sabalenka from unleashing his serve, who scored after another break final partial score 6-2.
The champion missed the first four service chances to end the match, but saved his fifth match point after connecting forehand winner.
Photo: Reuters
Sabalenka finished the match with a goal 84% points earned with the first serve, 14 winners and 14 unforced errors, which forced Zheng to make 32 unforced errorsbecause of demands to beat him violently.
With the win, Sabalenka, who has a positive 2-1 record in Grand Slam finals, will maintain her advantage. second place in the worldfor Polish Iga Swiatek (1).
(EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
