Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her titles at the Australian Open. In the final she dominated her opponent Zheng Qinwen at will.
With moist eyes, Aryna Sabalenka accepted the silver trophy in Melbourne at 9:17 p.m. local time and was frenetically celebrated by the audience in the Rod Laver Arena: With the next demonstration of power, the Belarusian stormed to the title at the Australian Open without losing a set and has her reign impressively extended in Melbourne.
The 25-year-old won her second Grand Slam title on Saturday and became the first player since her compatriot Viktoria Azarenka to successfully defend the trophy at the first major tournament of the year in 2013. “It’s been an incredible few weeks, I couldn’t imagine winning here again. I’m speechless,” said Sabalenka after the convincing 6:3, 6:2 against the hopelessly overwhelmed Chinese Zheng Qinwen.
Sabalenka secured prize money of around 1.9 million euros and is unbeaten in 14 games at Melbourne Park. After just 1:16 hours of play, she used her fifth match point to win. “Thanks to my team and my family. I can’t wait to come back,” said Sabalenka.
“She is now absolutely top – it is important for her to confirm this even more often,” said Boris Becker as a TV expert at Eurosport. In September, Sabalenka reached the final of the US Open, but lost to Coco Gauff. In Melbourne, the world number two took “revenge” when she eliminated the American Gauff in the semi-finals.
Zheng, meanwhile, missed out on ascending the Melbourne throne ten years after her compatriot Li Na. The 21-year-old can console herself with around one million euros in prize money and will initially move into the top ten of the WTA world rankings. “It was my first final, I feel sad. But thanks to all the fans who came here to support me,” Zheng said.
Sabalenka easily won the only previous meeting between the two in two sets in the quarterfinals of the US Open 2023, and on Saturday in the Rod Laver Arena she was also the clearly dominant player from the start. She broke the Chinese early in the first set and immediately set course for her second major title. In the second set, Sabalenka left no doubt about this – even though the self-sacrificing Chinese fought off four match points.
At 43: Indian Bopanna wins doubles title in Melbourne
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna has won the doubles title at the Australian Open with his Australian partner Matthew Ebden at the age of 43. The duo defeated the Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori on Saturday with strong nerves 7:6 (7:0), 7:5 and celebrated their first Grand Slam title together.
On Monday, Bopanna will become the oldest professional in history to become number one in the doubles competition. “I’m 43, but I always say: I’m level 43. I found a fantastic partner, we had a fantastic tournament,” said Bopanna, who turns 44 in March and has been on the professional tour for over 20 years.
In 2017, Bopanna won the mixed doubles title at the French Open, and Ebden won the doubles competition at Wimbledon in 2022 with his former partner Max Purcell.
Alexander Zverev looks ahead: “I’ll get another chance”
On the long way home, Alexander Zverev was filled with disappointment as well as a good deal of pride. “I did everything I could. I played good tennis throughout the whole trip to Australia,” said Zverev after his bitter semi-final exit at the Australian Open: “I lost because of my physical condition. That’s why it’s frustrating. “
Before the duel with feared opponent Daniil Medvedev, the Hamburg native developed a “feverish cold”, which took away his strength and the chance of his second Grand Slam final in the thrilling five-set thriller against the Russian. But Zverev wants to take the positives from the four weeks in Australia, in which he first won the United Cup with the German team in Sydney and then made it to the semi-finals in Melbourne with exciting tennis at times.
“I did everything I could in preparation and here in Australia. I was focused, I was concentrated – but things got out of my control. Hopefully it wasn’t my last chance,” said Zverev, who lost in the quarter-finals against Carlos Alcaraz and in the first two sets against Medvedev had impressively underlined his ambitions for the first major title – in the end without success. Now we look forward.
The Davis Cup duel in Hungary is scheduled for the first weekend in February. Despite a cold, Germany’s number one wants to play for captain Michael Kohlmann’s team. “I assume that I will be in Hungary,” said Zverev in Melbourne: “It’s not a question for me now.”
Successful qualification for the group stage of the team competition should give the 26-year-old further self-confidence for the long season in which he wants to attack the really big titles. He proved in Melbourne that he is one of the world’s best.
Despite a few wobbles in the first round, he was in absolutely world-class form, especially against Alcaraz. In Paris, London and New York there are the next chances for Zverev to finally fulfill his dream of his first major title. He also wants to triumph again in the individual at the Olympic Games in the French capital.
“I’m sure that if I do the right things, I’ll get another chance like this,” said Zverev, who only suffered two defeats in a total of eleven individual games at the start of the season in Australia – and can build on that.
Australian Open: Sinner wants to make history against Medvedev
Italy is in Sinner fever again. “His smile enchants the whole country,” wrote the Gazzetta dello Sport about the “most famous Italian hero of the moment” after Jannik Sinner had disenchanted series champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open. In the final on Sunday, the South Tyrolean wants to bring his home country back into ecstasy – and make history with a win against Daniil Medvedev.
After his Davis Cup triumph in November, the country was already at the 22-year-old’s feet. With a success in the final in Melbourne against the world number three on Sunday (9.30 a.m.), Sinner can now become the first Italian Grand Slam winner in the men’s category. Becoming single for 48 years.
“The end of the year gave me self-confidence. But I’m really relaxed, to be honest. If it doesn’t work out this year, then maybe next year,” said Sinner, as usual, modestly before the biggest game of his career.
Sinner goes into his first major final as a slight favorite; in Melbourne he was in impressive shape in all six of his games. The coronation is aimed at Medvedev. “I’m working hard for my dream. If it works, it’s good – if not, I gave 100 percent,” said the South Tyrolean.
Medvedev is more experienced than Sinner, the Russian is going into his third final at the Australian Open after his comeback win against Alexander Zverev – he had to admit defeat in 2021 (against Djokovic) and 2022 (against Rafael Nadal).
“He’s been playing at a completely different level since the end of last season. So if I want to beat him, I have to take my game to a new level. I’ll try to do that,” said Medvedev, who has a positive record against Sinner – but lost all of the last three games.
If he wins the final, he will be the “happiest man in the world,” emphasized Medvedev, who had to go over five sets three times during the tournament – and always had the upper hand with strong nerves. “It’s my third final here, which is great. I’m looking forward to it,” said the 2021 US Open champion.
Sinner does that too. It was “great” to beat Grand Slam record champion Djokovic in the semifinals, but: “The tournament is not over yet,” said Sinner: “A final is always something different.”
2024-01-27 14:02:00
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