- By Himanshu Badola
- Sat, 27 Jan 2024 03:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Australian Open 2024: Aryna Sabalenka defeated China's Qinwen Zheng in the final by 6-3, 6-2 to successfully defend her Australian Open title in the women's singles category on Saturday, January 27.
With the win, the world No. 2 became the second player to win back-to-back women's title at Melbourne Park after Victoria Azarenka, who clinched it in 2012 and 2013.
The Belarusian also became the fifth player in history to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup without conceding a set, after Ash Barty in 2022, Serena Williams in 2017, Maria Sharapova in 2008, and Lindsay Davenport in 2000.
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Sabalenka took the early 2-0 lead in the opening set before the Chinese had three break-point opportunities for herself.
However, the reigning champion fought off well to deny Zheng, before serving out the first set 6-3 in just 32 minutes.
A clean crosscourt winner earned Sabalenka a break point in the opening game of the second set and Zheng's double fault gifted it to her, the 21-year-old's hopes of emulating her idol Li Na's 2014 triumph beginning to evaporate.
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Sabalenka shrugged off a shaky service game to close out the most one-sided final since Azarenka beat Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in 2012 by smashing a forehand winner.
Sabalenka has now a 2-0 record over Zheng, having also defeated her in their only previous meeting in the 2023 US Open quarters.
It is to be noted that Sabalenka didn't drop a single set in this year's tournament.
Talking about her campaign, Sabalenka got the better of Ella Seidel 6-0, 6-1 before she went past Brenda Fruhvirtova by 6-3, 6-2 in the second.
In the third round, she defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-0 to make it to the Round of 16 where she overcame Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2.
In the quarters, she beat Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 before clinching a remarkable win in the semifinal over Coco Gauff.
