Aryna Sabalenka has clinched back-to-back Australian Open titles after destroying Qinwen Zheng in the women’s singles final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
The second seed took only one hour, 17 minutes to win her second career major, defeating China’s 12th seed Zheng 6-3 6-2.
Sabalenka won’t return to the world no.1 ranking after the win, instead staying at no.2, but she will put pressure on incumbent Iga Swiatek with the Grand Slam triumph.
The result was never really in doubt, especially after Sabalenka broke Zheng on her opening serve of the match.
Sabalenka cruised her way through the first set and it was much of the same in the second, as the power from the reigning champion was simply too much for Zheng.
The world no.2 broke in the first game and again in the fifth game, before needing five championship points to seal the title.
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The Sporting News followed the Aryna Sabalenka vs. Qinwen Zheng final live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as it happened.
*Denotes server
*Denotes server
GAME, SET, CHAMPIONSHIP SABALENKA! Sabalenka* 6-3 6-2 Zheng
Sabalenka to serve for the title. Zheng nets the return. 15-0. Zheng overhits the return this time. 30-0. Zheng drills the serve into the net. Three championship points for Sabalenka. She drags the forehand wide. One saved. 40-15. And the second she hits long. Crowd moans. 40-30. Zheng saves all three with a drop shot. Wow. Deuce. Zheng hits the return long. Adv Sabalenka. Fourth championship point. Sabalenka nets. Deuce again. Zheng gets a break point. Incredible. Forces the Sabalenka error. Adv Zheng. Sabalenka hits an ace out wide. Deuce. Zheng hits long. Fifth championship point for Sabalenka. She hits a winner. Back-to-back titles.
Sabalenka 6-3 5-2 Zheng*
Sabalenka makes an incredible pick-up volley but Zheng passes her for a winner. 15-0. Zheng clips the line with a brilliant passing shot. 30-0. Sabalenka belts the second serve return and forces the error from Zheng. 30-15. Sabalenka hits the return long. 40-30. Sabalenka goes wide. Zheng is going to make her serve it out.
Sabalenka* 6-3 5-1 Zheng
Sabalenka nets the first point. 0-15. And the world no.2 does the same again. 0-30. Unreturned serve. 15-30. Zheng slaps Sabalenka’s second serve long. 30-30. Unreturned serve. 40-30. Sabalenka delivers the forehand winner and she is one game from back-to-back titles.
Sabalenka 6-3 4-1 Zheng*
Zheng makes the surprise drop shot and Sabalenka can’t get there. 15-0. Sabalenka attacks the second serve and Zheng hits wide. 15-15. Double fault from the Chinese. 15-30. Zheng makes a good passing shot which Sabalenka can only frame. 30-30. Sabalenka only just flips the serve back and Zheng hits a crosscourt winner. 40-30. Zheng nets. Deuce. Another double fault to Zheng. Break point. Adv Sabalenka. Sabalenka makes the drop winner. Just too strong for Zheng. Simple as that.
Sabalenka* 6-3 3-1 Zheng
Zheng hits long after an extended rally. 15-0. Zheng hits a clean winner off Sabalenka’s serve. Great shot. 15-15. Sabalenka frames a shot wide. Opening for Zheng here. 15-30. Sabalenka gets the high return and smashes it for a winner. 30-30. Zheng nets. Sabalenka’s power is too much. 40-30. Zheng bunts the return long. Game Sabalenka.
Sabalenka 6-3 2-1 Zheng*
Sabalenka drags her return just wide. 15-0. Zheng’s second serve is attacked by Sabalenka and the Chinese nets. 15-15. Zheng gets the serve/winner combo. 30-15. Sabalenka hits long going for power. 40-15. Sabalenka bunts the first serve down the line for a winner. 40-30. Sabalenka puts away the smash and it’s deuce. Zheng wrong foots Sabalenka and hits a winner. Adv Zheng. There is a ‘Free Palestine’ supporter disrupting play. Zheng holds after the disruption.
Sabalenka* 6-3 2-0 Zheng
Zheng defends well ands Sabalenka nets. 0-15. Unreturned serve. 15-15. The reigning champion serves an ace. 30-15. Zheng wins the point after forcing the short ball from Sabalenka. 30-30. Zheng nets and it’s game point for Sabalenka. Again Zheng nets. Sabalenka consolidates the break.
Sabalenka 6-3 1-0 Zheng*
Sabalenka overhits a backhand in the rally. 15-0. Zheng gets a shot deep and Sabalenka hits it long. 30-0. Double fault from Zheng. 30-15. Another double fault from the Chinese. 30-30. Amazing return from Sabalenka. Clean winner. Break point. 30-40. A third double fault of the game gives Sabalenka the early break.
FIRST SET SABALENKA! Sabalenka* 6-3 Zheng
An unreturned serve to start from Sabalenka. 15-0. Sabalenka just misses the line. 15-15. Unreturned serve. 30-15. Zheng steps up but misses the line going for the winner. Tw set points. 40-15. Zheng belts the return and forces Sabalenka into the error. 40-30. An unreturned serve seals the set for Sabalenka.
Sabalenka 5-3 Zheng*
Brute force from Sabalenka draws the wide ball from Zheng. 0-15. Zheng hits long. 0-30. Looking in trouble here. Another hit too long from Zheng. Three set points for Sabalenka. 0-40. An ace right on the line saves one. 15-40. Serve/winner combo from Zheng. Crowd is supporting her. 30-40. A second ace of the game brings is back to deuce. Zheng is fighting. Sabalenka smashes the second serve into the net. Adv Zheng. Double fault. Crowd groans. Deuce. A third ace of the game for Zheng. She has served excellently this game. Adv Zheng. An unreturned serve seals the game. Three set points saved by Zheng.
Sabalenka* 5-2 Zheng
Zheng misses the return wide. 15-0. Zheng gets a deep return and Sabalenka can only net. 15-15. Zheng just misses the line after making good connection with Sabalenka’s first serve. 30-15. Zheng balloons a shot well over the baseline. 40-15. Too much power from Sabalenka. She forces the error. Game.
Sabalenka 4-2 Zheng*
Sabalenka drills the Zheng second serve into the net. 15-0. Sabalenka blasts the second serve for a winner this time. 15-15. Zheng generates power from Sabalenka and the world no.2 hits long. 30-15. An unreturned serve. Game point for Zheng. 40-15. Zheng serves an ace down the middle to seal the game.
Sabalenka* 4-1 Zheng