Alina Sabalenka While unable to surpass Ash Barty’s Australian Open record, she has joined the ranks of some legends with her second consecutive victory at Melbourne Park. The lively Belarusian was never in danger during her bid for the Australian Open title, beating rival Zheng Qinwen in straight sets in the final.
Sabalenka is now the first woman to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013. The 25-year-old achieved the feat with swashbuckling form.
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Sabalenka joins the great Barty (2022), Serena Williams (2017), Maria Sharapova (2008) and Lindsay Davenport (2000) The fifth woman this century to win the Australian Open without dropping a set. She lost only 31 matches and won the title in second most dominant fashion.
While that’s still below Barty’s performance in 2022, the four-time Grand Slam champion dropped an incredible 30 games on his way to victory. But in 2024, the Belarusian achieved the feat in such a dominant manner that she even left herself speechless.
“It’s been an amazing few weeks and I can’t imagine myself lifting this trophy again,” Sabalenka said. “It feels unbelievable right now. I’m really speechless.” Although Sabalenka didn’t drop a set on the way to the feat, she still faced self-doubt.
The 25-year-old admitted she was worried she might not get another chance to win a second Grand Slam when she lost to Coco Gauff in last year’s US Open final – the same opponent she beat in the Australian Open semi-finals . . Just a few months later, Sabalenka would go down in history as a multiple Grand Slam champion.
“I’ve always thought that I don’t want to be that player who wins a championship and then disappears,” Sabalenka said at a news conference. “I just want to prove that I can be there all the time and that I can win another tournament. I’m now Really hoping to win more than two games.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s warning to other fields
Sabalenka immediately turned her attention to the clay and grass court seasons. Dominating on hard courts, Sabalenka is eager to regain her form on other surfaces to add to her Grand Slam record.
“I definitely think that if I’m going to keep working like I’m doing now, if we’re going to keep building what we’re building right now, I’m definitely going to be able to do the same thing on clay, on grass,” Sabalenka added. “I will keep working hard and hopefully I can achieve the same goal this year on clay or grass.”
5 – Aryna Sabalenka is the fifth player this century to win the women’s singles championship at the Australian Open without losing a set, following Davenport in 2000 and Sharapova in 2008. , Serena Williams in 2017 and Barty in 2022, they will dominate.#AustraliaOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/ltADtnsyH2
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 27, 2024
Zheng Qinwen prepares for future Grand Slam opportunities
Unfortunately for Zheng Zhi, Sabalenka was so brutal in the final that the 21-year-old was unable to compete. While she admits this moment is important to her, she’s ready for another chance at a future Grand Slam.
“I feel a little sorry, but it was an amazing experience for me,” Zheng said. “This is my first time playing a Grand Slam final. I feel I can do better, but I didn’t do it in this game. I believe there will be more and better in the future.”
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