The scenario of this Australian Open final was predictable between one player, Aryna Sabalenka, world No. 2, defending champion and who therefore had the experience of a Grand Slam final, and another, Qinwen Zheng , who discovered the game at such a high altitude. In the end, there wasn’t really a match and the Belarusian won easily (6-3, 6-2), in 1h16 on Saturday.
From the first game, blank, Sabalenka was reassured about the effectiveness of her serve. On the second, leaving Zheng with only one point, she confirmed that her forehand hurt in return. And if the Chinese had three opportunities to break the break in the following game, it was more due to her opponent’s errors than to her own success. Taken in speed and power, Zheng could only suffer in this first set.
Perfectly put into orbit by this first round which was easily won, Sabalenka did not let up. Camped on her line, she did not give up an inch of ground and continued to put pressure on Zheng who was losing her means, particularly on serve (6 double faults). Nothing could prevent her from retaining her title, a first in Melbourne since the double achieved by Victoria Azarenka (2012 and 2013). In the end, it was only at the conclusion, when Zheng saved three match points, that Sabalenka was overtaken by her emotions. A moment of fleeting tension which was not going to change anything in history as it largely flew over this Australian Open, not letting any set slip away until its title.
2024-01-27 10:09:20
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