Sabalenka overwhelms Zheng to seal back-to-back Australian Open titles

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Aryna Sabalenka is creating a dynasty at the Australian Open. On Saturday, Sabalenka crushed her Chinese opponent Qinwen Zheng in just 76 minutes, thus becoming the first woman to defend this title since her fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 11 years ago.
The 6-3, 6-2 victory continued Sabalenka’s frictionless run through this event, which has seen her spend only a touch over eight hours on the court. For context, men’s finalist Daniil Medvedev has already crossed the 20-hour mark with another match still to go.
The flawlessness of Sabalenka’s performance was summed up by her clean serving: 67 per cent of first serves landed and not a single double-fault, which is a remarkable achievement for someone who was plagued by the yips only 18 months ago.
She was on cruise control for much of this contest, which was briefly interrupted by a ‘free-Palestine’ protester. The occasion seemed to get to Zheng, who said in her speech that she had felt “a little bit dizzy”. But then it was a mismatch in so many ways: power, experience and proven quality. The unpredictable nature of the women’s draw can be seen from the fact that Zheng beat no opponent ranked higher than British No 1 Katie Boulter, who is the world No 54.
It’s strange now to think that, on Sabalenka’s first visit to Rod Laver Arena in 2018, the fans mocked her exaggerated grunt. Now she is a fixture on this court: a two-time Australian Open champion with power to add.
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The performance from Sabalenka throughout the tournament has put the rest of the WTA on notice.
With the power she has and the momentum she’s building – semi-finals, at least, in the last six grand slams – the Belarusian is poised to take over the sport
Trust the process, work hard , be passionate doing what you love and great things will happen. Amazing performance @SabalenkaA @AustralianOpen champion!
👏👏 @SabalenkaA congrats to you and your team❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏
I LOVE YOUR SPEECHES 😂🔝 @SabalenkaA the best on & off court! ❤️
YESSSSS Aryna! What a champ!
2024 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) bt Zheng Qinwen (China) 6-3, 6-22023 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) bt Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) 4-6, 6-3, 6-42022 Ash Barty bt Danielle Collins (U.S.) 6-3, 7-6(2)2021 Naomi Osaka (Japan) bt Jennifer Brady (U.S.) 6-4, 6-32020 Sofia Kenin (U.S.) bt Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 4-6, 6-2, 6-22019 Naomi Osaka bt Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-42018 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-42017 Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-4, 6-42016 Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt S. Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-42015 S. Williams bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3, 7-6(5)2014 Li Na (China) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 7-6(3), 6-02013 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-32012 Victoria Azarenka bt Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-02011 Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-32010 S. Williams bt Justine Henin (Belgium) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
I want to congratulate Qinwen on an incredible couple of weeks. I know how tough it is to lose in the final but you’re such an incredible player and you’re going to get it.
It’s been an amazing couple of weeks. I couldn’t imagine myself lifting this trophy one more time. It’s an unbelievable feeling.
As always my speech is going to be weird. Team, wow. Thank you so much for being by my side no matter what. I mean, without me you wouldn’t be that good as well.
I never speak about my family in these speeches but I have to say thank you for everything they’ve done for me. I love you so much, you’re my biggest motivation. I can’t wait to come back.
First of all I want to say congratulations to you Aryna – you had such a wonderful match here. It was my first final and I’m feeling a little bit (of) pity but that’s how it is, a new experience for me.
I want to say thanks for all the fans who come here to watch me. I feel I could do better but I didn’t in this match but I wanted to say thanks to my team to help me arrive here.
I really enjoyed playing in this Australian Open. An amazing memory for me. I’m sure there is going to be more and better for me in the future.
14 sets played, 14 sets won, the reigning champion retains her 👑!Queen Aryna’s second coronation caps a perfect fortnight at Melbourne Park.@SabalenkaA • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/x7639RQr84
Sabalenka not having a single double fault today is impressive. She’s come such a long way. And Zheng didn’t test her at all
Sabalenka secures back to back AO titles. The last game felt like another match within a match, but she got through it. Most of Zheng’s double faults stand out, but didn’t feel she was as overawed as she could have been. FH to FH disadvantage was considerable on the day too.
Just as dominant as Barty in 2022 from Sabalenka. Best player in the world #AusOpen
Sabalenka is just the 5th woman to win the Australian Open without dropping a set after Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Ash Barty.
5 – Aryna Sabalenka is the 5th player this Century to secure the Women’s Singles title at the Australian Open without a single set dropped en route after Davenport in 2000, Sharapova in 2008, S. Williams in 2017 and Barty in 2022. Domination.#AusOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/ltADtnsyH2
Same old tactic for Sabalenka works again as Zheng nets a forehand return, 15-0. Zheng backhand return is wild and the ball flies wide, 30-0. 
Three match points after Zheng nets a backhand return. Back-to-back forehand errors from Sabalenka. Zheng on the attack and she finishes with a drop shot winner. Comeback on?
Perhaps not. Another wide Sabalenka serve and Zheng’s forehand return is wide. Fourth championship point. Work still to be done for Sabalenka as she nets a forehand. Hmmmm.
Zheng forehand long. Sabalenka lets out a huge roar. Fifth time lucky? Yes. GAME SET CHAMPIONSHIP SABALENKA.
A 14th winner of the match and Sabalenka defends her title in Melbourne.
Zheng does what she needs to do and holds to 15. Sabalenka will serve for the championship next…
The match has only just got past the one-hour mark and it’s clear that the crowd is desperate for Zheng to fight and prolong this.
She gets an opening when Sabalenka slips to 0-30 but the defending champion hits back to lead 40-30 and she finishes the game off with a forehand winner.
Sabalenka has been brilliant today. Zheng must now hold serve to stay in the match.
Sabalenka is well into another Zheng service game and a sixth double fault gives the Belarusian a break point.
Longest rally of the match, Zheng is having to defend so much to keep her hopes alive but Sabalenka keeps on being the aggressor before hitting a deft drop shot winner which Zheng barely moves for.
Double break secured for Sabalenka.
Raw power from @SabalenkaA! She closes out the point, the game and takes a 6-3 4-1 lead.#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/DU9pNTfzpJ
Sabalenka opens the door slightly for Zheng when she mis-hits a forehand into the tramlines. But she responds with an overhead winner, 30-30.
Sabalenka goes on the attack again and Zheng nets a forehand. Zheng has had to do so much defending in this match.
Blocked return by Zheng goes long and Sabalenka holds again. She’s been imperious on serve today.
Sabalenka is upping the intensity and power as she seeks a second break. She guides a backhand down the line for a winner, 40-30. Zheng barely moved for it.
Sabalenka overhead winner makes it deuce. If Sabalenka breaks here, it’s game over.
Great wide serve by Zheng and she goes back behind Sabalenka to whip a forehand winner into the corner. Slight disturbance as some fans shout out ‘Free Palestine’.
But Zheng keeps her composure, finding a first serve which is unreturned by Sabalenka.
One way traffic at the moment. Sabalenka is just overpowering Zheng. But it doesn’t feel as though Sabalenka as needed to get out of second gear. 
A rare backhand-to-backhand exchange and Zheng cracks first.
Zheng definitely got better towards the back-end of the set, shaking off the first time finalist nerves, but she’s at a considerable disadvantage from forehand to forehand. Sabalenka exploiting the production of that groundstroke really well.
Double fault by Zheng, 30-15. Another one makes it 30-30. Badly needs a first serve here…
She finds one but Sabalenka responds with a brilliant angled forehand return winner, break point. Zheng double faults again and Sabalenka breaks.
Oh dear.
First Set stats:Sabalenka: 1 ace, 59% 1st serves in, 94% 1st serves won, 55% 2nd serves won, 48% returns in, 1 for 4 on BPs, saved 3 for 3 BPs, 4 W, 5 UFE, 5 forced errorsZheng: 6 aces, 63% 1st serves in, 73% 1st serves won, 44% 2nd serves won, 63% returns in, 0 for 3 on BPs,…
Sabalenka’s go-to service tactic to the swinging first serve into Zheng’s forehand. The 12th seed has been completely unable to manage it. 
A backhand into the tramlines by Zheng gives Sabalenka two set points. Zheng saves the first after finally getting a forehand return right then finishing with a forehand winner.
But Sabalenka secures the first set with a big wide serve and Zheng’s backhand return doesn’t get back into play.
Uphill task for Zheng now.
Since 2000, 4 players have won the #AusOpen without losing a set:2000: Lindsay Davenport2008: Maria Sharapova2017: Serena Williams2022: Ash BartyAryna Sabalenka is looking to make it 5 tonight.The defending champion seals the first set 6-3.
Trouble for Zheng as her forehand goes long, 0-30. Deep return by Sabalenka and Zheng again goes long with her forehand. Three set points.
Second serve ace by Zheng to save the first. Then the second with a rare forehand winner into the open court. And the third with an ace. The first serve is very good… when she gets it in!
Relief for Zheng as she holds and prolongs the set. Can she make an impact on the Sabalenka serve?
No let up from Sabalenka as she moves a game away from the set with a service hold to 15. Once again Sabalenka clearly targeting Zheng’s forehand and drawing the errors.
Sabalenka wallops a forehand return winner off a weak Zheng second serve, 15-15. Zheng finds her first serve and moves 40-15 ahead. An ace on game point leads to a service hold.
When she gets her first serve in play, Zheng is in business. When she has to play a second serve, Sabalenka is all over it.
The answer to my question in the previous post is no. Sabalenka holds to love with another game of massive serving and ball striking.
Zheng just doesn’t have the firepower at the moment.
Aryna Sabalenka is the 2nd player this century to reach 3+ consecutive hard court Women’s Singles Grand Slam finals after Victoria Azarenka. A win tonight and she would become the 1st woman to go B2B at #AusOpen since Azarenka in 2012-13.Another quick hold and she leads 4-1*.
Coming into the match, Zheng had been on court for 11hrs and 34 mins. It things continue as they are, she won’t be on court for long today. Has to hold serve here to settle herself and get a foothold in the match.
Two aces and a forehand winner put Zheng 40-0 ahead and an excellent wide serve is too much for Sabalenka and Zheng does get on the scoreboard.
Can she make any headway on the Sabalenka serve now?
A slight opening for Zheng as Sabalenka’s forehand goes long and makes it 0-30. Deep return by Zheng and another backhand error by Sabalenka gives her three break back points.
Sabalenka saves the first. Then the second when Zheng nets a forehand. Sabalenka is putting big pressure on the Zheng forehand wing. Definitely sees it as an area of weakness.
Sabalenka backhand winner makes it deuce. Too strong and powerful from the Belarusian.
Another forehand into the net by Zheng and Sabalenka sees off that scare.
 
 
Zheng quickly slips to 15-40 and offers up two break points. A deep backhand return by Sabalenka and Zheng can’t do anything about it, sending her backhand into the tramlines.
Ominous start by the second seed.
Brutal start from Sabalenka. Goes wide with his first serve and powers a cross-court backhand into the corner.
An ace makes it 40-0. And a forehand long from Zheng gives Sabalenka an easy hold. No signs of nerves there at all. 
I think that the decision by Zheng to put Sabalenka in first might have backfired. Big pressure on her now.
It’s a 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 from Aryna Sabalenka 🤯#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Mz4gsV32N8
It’s showtime folks. Zheng walks onto court first followed by the defending champ Sabalenka. Rod Laver Arena is nearly full. The fans have made sure to take their seats early for this one.
Zheng wins the coin toss and opts to receive first. Bold move. She must want to get after the Sabalenka serve early.
128 women started their #AO2024 journey dreaming of this stage. 13 days and 126 matches later we’re down to just two.@emirates • #walkon • #flybetter@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/7LTaIcnK5v
First round: beat Ella Seidel (Germany) 6-0, 6-1Second round: beat Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-2Third round: beat 28-Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-0, 6-0Fourth round: beat Amanda Anisimova (U.S.) 6-3, 6-2Quarter-finals: beat 9-Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) 6-2, 6-3Semi-finals: beat 4-Coco Gauff (U.S.) 7-6(2), 6-4
First round: beat Ashlyn Krueger (US) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3Second round: beat Katie Boulter (Great Britain) 6-3, 6-3Third round: beat Wang Yafan (China) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(8)Fourth round: beat Oceane Dodin (France) 6-0, 6-3Quarter-finals: beat Anna Kalinskaya (Russia) 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1Semi-finals: beat Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine) 6-4, 6-4
It’s fantastic to see Zheng progress so much. She’s only played one quarter-final at the US Open last year. The feeling will be so different when you walk on the court [in the final]. You should visualise yourself on the court and this will be special. 
She should keep the same routine and it’s good she keeps her feet on the ground. She should stay in her bubble and try to enjoy this moment because it is so special.”
Today’s winner will receive a nice cheque for £1.68 million while the runner-up will take home £924,167.
This year’s Australian Open total prize money is a record 13 per cent increase on 2023 – £46.3 million will be shared by the field.
2 – Zheng Qinwen is only the 2nd player in the Open Era to defeat six unseeded opponents en route to a women’s singles final at the Australian Open, after Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (1995). Light. #AusOpen | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/JiJou5f8HR
Yeah, I think her forehand is really her best shot. I would say forehand, it’s quite heavy. And she’s moving well also. Fighting for every point.
Yeah, she played really great tennis, putting her opponents under pressure, playing really aggressive tennis, and I think that’s why she’s — she will be top 10, right? That’s why she’s in top 10.
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Good morning and welcome to coverage of the Australian Open women’s final. After two gruelling weeks, the final battle will be between Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng.
Sabalenka is the defending champion and clear favourite to win the match after blasting her way through the draw. On Thursday, she took out American Coco Gauff and now has her sights set on retaining her title.
“I would say emotionally I’ll be, hmm, I don’t know, like, very ready to fight,” she said. “Not going crazy. Because when you play first final you kind of like get emotional and rushing things sometimes. When you’re like third time in the finals, you’re, like, okay, it’s a final, it’s okay.
“It’s just another match, and you’re able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game.”
China’s Zheng has reached a maiden grand slam final for the first time in her career and done so without having to play a seeded player. Victory for her would mean she emulates Li Na, who won the tournament in 2014.
Zheng said: “She means a lot, I think, for all the Chinese kids the same age as me.
“Because I think she’s the first one who won the slams. That’s unbelievable for Asian woman in that moment. She gives a lot of hope, in that moment, to young kids like me.
“I’m sure the final will be really competitive, because I think Sabalenka, she’s one of the, I would say, most big hitters right now in the tour. She’s got the biggest serve, big forehand, big backhand. She’s really complete player.
“Like you say, I haven’t faced big seeded all the past round and she will be the first one I will face. But, you know, is a match, so let’s see what gonna happen the final there.”