Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured her second Australian Open women’s singles trophy by defeating the emerging Chinese sensation Qianwen Zheng in the finals at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Saturday. The second-seeded Sabalenka dominated the match with a swift 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 12th-seeded Zheng. This victory marks Sabalenka’s third Grand Slam singles title and her first Australian Open win since 2013.
Sabalenka, who had a remarkable start to the tournament, did not drop a single set en route to clinching the title. In the early rounds, she defeated all seeded players, including Brenda in the second round and Lesia Surek in the third round. She continued her impressive run by overcoming Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals and Barbara Krejickova in the semifinals. In the finals, Sabalenka faced the American young talent Coco Gauff and secured a convincing win.
With this triumph, Sabalenka joins the elite group of players who have won back-to-back titles at the Australian Open. She had previously achieved this feat in 2013. Notably, Sabalenka’s dominance in the tournament reflects her prowess, as she has now won three Grand Slam singles titles.
The Australian Open has been a significant tournament for Sabalenka, as she has now won it three times without dropping a set. Her first-place finish in the singles rankings after the 2007 season, following Serena Williams’ similar achievement, adds to her impressive record. After Sabalenka’s win in 2022 against Elena Rybakina, her success at the Australian Open further solidifies her position among the tennis greats.