Aryna Sabalenka once again entered her name in the Australian Open record, for the second consecutive year, by beating the Chinese in the final Quinwen Zheng by 6-3 and 6-2. The Belarusian tennis player, world number 2, won the title without giving up a single set in the tournament. She imposed her experience against a tennis player who was playing in her first Grand Slam final and who came to the match without facing any ‘top 50’ in the tournament although, at 21 years old, she has shown level tennis to earn a place in the ‘ top ten’ where this Monday it will appear in sixth place.
Sabalenka put into play the reasons why she was going to defend the title she won last year. The Belarusian reached the final without giving up a set thanks to the power of her serves and her forehand. The first point was won in blank with the first two ‘aces’ and in the second he made the ‘break’, overpowering Zheng with the rest. Pressure to show who was in charge on the court.
Maximum pressure
The Belarusian took a 3-0 lead that she did not let slip even though the Chinese tennis player also demonstrated the reasons for her presence at the Rod Laver Arena, with her serve (tournament leader with 48 ‘aces’ by 24 Sabalenka) and a bravery in his game when Sabalenka lowered the piston of his intensity and ball speed.
He didn’t stop pressing the accelerator Sabalenka to avoid any surprises. The world number 2 broke again at the start of the second set, also thanks to three double faults from Zheng pressured by the sticks that came from the other side of the net. The Chinese tennis player couldn’t find a way to cut the intensity of her rival. Sabalenka, confident, forceful and aggressive, did not let the advantage slip away to certify the victory after 1 hour and 16 minutes. Although it was difficult for the Belarusian to finish it until the fifth match ball, after wasting a 40-0 and seeing how Zheng He missed a break point.
2024-01-27 10:24:31
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