January 27, (THEWILL) – Tennis sensation Aryna Sabalenka cemented her status as a dominant force in women’s tennis on Saturday, defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to successfully defend her Australian Open title – the first woman to accomplish that feat in over a decade.
The world number two Belarusian overwhelmed 12th seed Zheng with her punishing groundstrokes and reliable serve, claiming a 6-3 6-2 victory in just 76 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka surged through the Melbourne fortnight without dropping a set across her seven matches, capping a masterful display of power and consistency.
“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks. I couldn’t imagine myself lifting this trophy one more time and it’s an unbelievable feeling right now. I’m really speechless,” remarked a delighted Sabalenka after the win. She also offered encouraging words to her defeated opponent, praising the young Chinese star’s efforts.
The 20-year-old Zheng was contesting her first-ever Grand Slam final after enjoying a dream run to the championship match. However, she struggled to counter Sabalenka’s attacking onslaught and blistering serve. “I feel very complicated because I feel like I could’ve done it better,” admitted a disappointed yet philosophical Zheng afterwards.
With her latest triumph, Sabalenka has now reached at least the semi-finals in her last six Major appearances, making three finals and winning two titles. The win will see her remain at number two in the world rankings, still behind Iga Swiatek. Zheng is set to enter the top ten for the first time in her career following her maiden Slam final showing.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
