Rod Laver Aryna: Aryna Sabalenka wins second Aus Open in domination over Qinwen Zheng
Aryna Sabalenka has broken a 12-year hoodoo to win back-to-back Australian Opens at Rod Laver Arena in a straight-sets victory over challenger Qinwen Zheng.
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Rod Laver Arena is Aryna Sabalenka’s house now.
With long-time resident Novak Djokovic giving up the keys following his semi-final departure, there is a new sheriff in town after the Belarusian blew China’s Qinwen Zheng off the court to win her second consecutive Australian Open title.
In a brutal display of sheer power, Sabalenka was dominant in every department to claim her second career grand slam title in just 76 minutes, 6-3 6-2.
The No.2 seed didn’t drop a set on her way to the title and incredibly has now won 28 of her last 29 sets in Melbourne.
Not since Sabalenka’s countrywoman Victoria Azarenka (2012-13) has the women’s Australian Open crown been defended.
14 sets played, 14 sets won, the reigning champion retains her 👑!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
Queen Aryna's second coronation caps a perfect fortnight at Melbourne Park.@SabalenkaA • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennispic.twitter.com/x7639RQr84
After taking five match points to claim the title, a withering cross-court forehand sealed the deal with Sabalenka celebrating by closing her eyes and raising her arms to the sky.
“It has been an amazing couple of weeks,” Sabalenka said after receiving the winner’s trophy from Australian legend Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.
“It has been an aamzing couple of weeks and I couldn’t imagine myself lifting this trophy one more time.”
While the 25-year-old still has a long way to go to match Djokovic’s 10 titles won on Rod Laver Arena, she is clearly making a move to be the best female player in the game.
There has been a vacancy at the top since Serena Williams, a seven-time winner in Melbourne, departed the scene.
While Poland’s Iga Swiatek will retain the world No.1 ranking even after her main rival claiming the opening grand slam of the season, it seems only a matter of time before Sabalenka reclaims the honour.
After winning last year’s Australian Open, she went on to make the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon before being runner-up at the US Open.
And from what was on display at Rod Laver Arena last night, the 2024 version of Sabalenka is even better.
“This is the best I have seen her play, no doubt,” former Wimbledon semi-finalist Jelena Dokic said.
Fellow commentator Sam Smith described the level of play as “Serena-esq”.
The match went along similar lines to the pair’s one and only meeting in the quarter-finals of last year’s US Open where Sabalenka was dominant 6-1 6-4.
She hit the ground running again with Zheng only winning one of the first 11 points of the match
While she settled midway through the first set, there was no way to get at the Sabalenka serve which has gone from being her biggest weakness a couple of years ago to a major weapon.
In the opening set, which lasted 33 minutes, the Belarusian was winning an extraordinary 94 percent of points on her first serve.
And when Zheng served up three double-faults in the opening game of the second set, the engraver had moved into position to start work on the trophy.
The second set lasted a few minutes longer - 43 minutes - but it followed the same script until Sabalenka was serving for the title and gave up four match points.
For the first time the champion looked rattled as the crowd got behind Zheng.
But It was only a blimp on the radar with an ace saving break point before a cross-court forehand got her the championship at her fifth attempt.
Sabalenka had been a pillar of strength throughout the whole tournament.
While seeds fell all around her, particularly on the other half of the draw, she remained head and shoulders above the pack.
No-one came close to taking a set off her until the semi-finals when Coco Gauff, who had taken her scalp in last year’s US Open final, pushed her to a tie-break in the opening set.
Unfortunately for Zheng, she never came close to doing that in her first grand slam final in the house of Sabalenka.
8:55PM: SHE’S DONE IT
Maybe they should rename it Rod Laver Aryna.
Aryna Sabalenka has won her second Australian Open following a dominant display over China’s Qinwen Zheng, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
She’s the first woman to go back-to-back at Melbourne Park since Victoria Azerenka in 2012-13, and absolutely dominated on Saturday night, right up until the final hurdle.
Zheng made her work for the final, championship point, saving four championship points and even gaining advantage in a second deuce as Sabalenka showed the first sign of nerves all night, just as she was on the cusp of victory, but fifth championship point proved the charm with a massive forehand.
Aryna Sabalenka is champion at Melbourne Park for the second year running.
8:50PM: SABALENKA ONE GAME AWAY
Aryna Sabalenka is closing in on a second Australian Open title.
She’s been described as “Serena-esque” by the Channel 9 commentary team and it shows.
Dominant performance.
8:45PM: ZHENG ON THE ROPES AS SABALENKA BREAKS AGAIN
It only feels like a matter of time now.
Aryna Sabalenka is in complete control on Rod Laver Arena after breaking Qinwen Zheng a second time in this second set.
Sabalenka hasn’t dropped a set, and looks like she won’t tonight, up 4-1 and now serving.
She was dominant in that game and Zheng looks rattled.
Another double fault in that game, too, with Zheng now up to six to the match - Sabalenka is yet to double dault.
8:35PM: CRUCIAL HOLD FOR ZHENG AS PROTEST HALTS PLAY
Qinwen Zheng has seen off a stern challenge from Aryna Sabalenka to hold serve.
She’s down 1-2 in the second set.
The game was interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters who was shouting before a Qinwen serve.
The women's final is currently suspended as two protesters with a Palestinian flag and shouting "FREE PALESTINE".
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 27, 2024
Security much quicker than last time (Norrie vs Zverev) and play is held up by a minute at most.#AusOpen
They were swiftly removed from the arena by security to resounding applauce from the crowd.
Four games played in the second set, three of them belong to @SabalenkaA.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
She leads Qinwen Zheng 6-3 3-1 and is inching towards a second #AusOpen title.
Can the No.12 seed rally back into the set and the match? pic.twitter.com/8exgRmmsgC
8:25PM: THREE DOUBLE FAULTS TO START SECOND SET
Qinwen Zheng’s masterful service game is off-target tonight, with the challenger serving three double faults in the opening game of the second set to hand Aryna Sabalenka the break.
It’s the worst possible start for Zheng after losing the first set in relatively quick fashion.
The @SabalenkaA way, eh @TedLasso?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
One set down, one away from a second #AusOpen crown. Aryna powers her way to the first set! pic.twitter.com/qNhmQ7YSRy
8:20PM: SABALENKA TAKES THE FIRST SET
That’s the first set down,
Aryna Sabalenka is in pole position to go back-to-back at the Australian Open tonight.
She’s held serve against Qinwen Zheng to take the first set 6-3.
Aryna Sabalenka has been devastating on her first serves tonight, winning 14 of her 15 first serves.
8:15PM: ZHENG HOLDS AFTER A TENSE GAME
Aryna Sabalenka is showing no mercy in this women’s final, but Qinwen Zheng isn’t making it easy for her, holding a service game despite a huge chance for Aryna Sabalenka to take the first set.
Zheng bounced back with an ace, a great forehand wide of Sabalenka and then another ace to bring is to deuce.
She lost advantage with a double fault, but won it straight back with another ace
8:05PM: ZHENG ON THE BOARD
Qinwen Zheng is on the board after two aces - bringing her tournament total to 50 - in her service game.
Sabalenka held her serve as well, going up 4-1.
Meanwhile, we have a big music name in the house.
Former One Directioner Louis Tomlinson has just walked into the women's final. (He is playing a gig in Melbourne this weekend.)#AusOpen
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 27, 2024
7:55PM: MISSED CHANCES BY ZHENG
Qinwen Zheng missed three break points on Aryna Sabalenka in the third game after going 15-40 up.
She had a golden chance to break the Belorussian but wasn’t able to capitalise.
Sabalenka, who hasn’t dropped a set all tournament, has only been broken six times in the 2024 Australian Open.
3-0 Zheng.
7.50PM: EARLY BREAK FOR SABALENKA
Aryna Sabalenka has broken Qinwen Zheng at the first opportunity, to go up 2-0.
Zheng, as a reminder, has the most aces in the women’s draw but couldn’t pull one out early.
7:47PM: SABALENKA TAKES THE FIRST GAME
First service game down, and Aryna Sabalenka hardly gives Qinwen Zheng a look-in, winning it 40-0.
7.45PM: WE’RE UNDER WAY
We’re off and running in the Australian Open women’s final!
Aryna Sabalenka has the serve, and the first point.
7.40PM: PLAYERS MAKE THEIR WAY ONTO THE COURT
Qinwen Zheng and Aryna Sabalenka have made their way out onto Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open women’s final.
Zheng leads the way out, as the second youngest Asian player in the Open Area to reach their maiden Grand Slam final - she’s only 21 years old.
Despite her run to the final not involving any seeded players, Zheng does have six wins over top 10 players.
Sabalenka is in her seventh Australian Open, and her third Grand Slam final after last year’s Australian Open and her loss in the US Open against Coco Gauff.
7.15PM: SOME KEY STATS AHEAD OF THE FINAL
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman to go back-to-back at the Australian Open since Victoria Azerenka in 2012-13.
Meanwhile Zheng has the most dangerous serve of all the women at this year’s Open, hitting 48 aces so far.
She has just the one hardcourt title, in Zhengzhou, and could rise from her number 15 WTA rank to as high as six depending on the result tonight.
She’s defeated six unseeded opponents in her dream run to the final, only the third player to achieve that.
Sabelenka has won 13 matches in a row at Melbourne Park, and is yet to drop a set this tournament.
6:30PM: ZEMPILAS DENIES WOMEN’S OPEN FINAL SLUR
Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has hit back after being slammed on social media for appearing to call the Australian Open women’s final “the reserves”.
Zempilas has come out and said the clip omitted context for his comment, which came after the video showed he asked a reporter “is there tennis on tonight?”
After the reporter replied “the female final”, Zempilas said “oh, it’s a reserves game then”, with the footage implying he meant the comment about the tennis.
After being dragged on Twitter, now known as X, Zempilas posted saying that portrayal of the conversation was “totally incorrect”.
Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas on a hot mic: “Tennis is on tonight isn’t it?â€
— 6 News Australia (@6NewsAU) January 27, 2024
Journalist: “Ah yeah, the female finalâ€
Zempilas: “It’s a reserves game thenâ€
Watch his full press conference here: https://t.co/fn451JwJuj#6NewsAU | https://t.co/eU0kSSqP9Epic.twitter.com/VyDXKcMAsd
He said his comment about “being the reserves” was a reference to reading the news at the same time as the tennis was being broadcast.
“Reading the news against the tennis was what I was referring to as “being the reserves”,” Zempilas said.
“Not the tennis.
I need to make absolutely clear the conversation I had with @9NewsPerth reporter @GenoveseMichael today is being reported totally incorrectly.
— Basil Zempilas (@BasilZempilas) January 27, 2024
Before today's press conference Michael and I were talking about how presenting the news when a big sporting event is on at the same…
This conversation has been taken completely out of context. @BasilZempilas was referring to the tennis and the news going head to head. https://t.co/Aagnu0WjaO
— Michael Genovese (@GenoveseMichael) January 27, 2024
“I can not make that any clearer or be any more emphatic.
“It is totally disingenuous and flat out wrong to suggest otherwise and I will not be accused of having said something I did not say.”
Zempilas said the line before announcing he would be standing for preselection the Liberal Party at the 2025 election.
5:30PM: SAKAMOTO TAKES JUNIOR BOYS’ SINGLES
Japanese youngster Rei Sakamoto has claimed the Australian Open juniors title in a come-from-behind win.
The fourth seed defeated Jan Kumstat from Czechia 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a tight final, with the 17-year-old ranked 949 in the world in singles.
He’s claimed more than $7000 in prize money across his career.
Remarkably, the unseeded and unranked Kumstat had a stunning tournament, toppling the sixth seed Alexander Razeghi in the third round, 12th seed Tianhui Zhang in the first round, despite the 16-year-old having a total career prize money of $963 to his name and no singles or doubles titles.
4.30PM: AUSSIE STAR SET FOR BIG FUTURE
Emerson Jones has shot her name up in lights as an Australian girl with glittering potential despite going down in the girls’ singles final on Saturday.
The 15-year-old Queenslander led No.1 seed Renata Jamrichova 3-0 in the first set before the Slovakian cruised to a 6-4 6-1 win on Rod Laver Arena.
But Jones has joined the likes of future stars including Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and – back in 1992 – Lindsay Davenport by simply reaching the junior final at Melbourne Park.
Jones is coached by David Taylor, the long-time former mentor to grand slam champion Sam Stosur, and has brilliance in her bloodlines.
She is the daughter of triathlete Loretta Harrop, who won a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
Her 17-year-old brother, Hayden Jones, reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open boys’ singles race this week.
“Thank you to everyone that supported me throughout the week,” Jones said after the honour of playing on centre court.
“It was an amazing experience. And congratulations to Renata, you totally deserved it.”
SABALENKA PRIMED AND READY FOR FINAL
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has predicted her grand slam final experience will have her primed emotionally and “very ready to fight” when she aims to become the first woman in 11 years to win back-to-back crowns at Melbourne Park.
After avenging her US Open defeat to Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, Sabalenka is now the hot favourite to add a second grand slam title to her resume when she faces off against first-time grand slam finalist Qinwen Zheng.
Not since her countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013 has a woman claimed consecutive Australian Open titles at the season-opening grand slam.
The first woman to reach back-to-back finals at Melbourne Park since Serena Williams, the big-hitting Belarusian will be taking to the court for her third major final - an edge she hopes to exploit against an opponent who will be playing off for her first grand slam title.
“I would say emotionally I’ll be very ready to fight. Not going crazy,” Sabalenka said.
“Because when you play your first final, you get emotional and rush things sometimes.
“When you’re third time in the finals, you’re like ‘OK, it’s a final, it’s OK’.
“It’s just another match, and you’re able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game.”
On a 13-match winning streak at the Australian Open, Sabalenka’s form has been ominous since she stepped foot on court at Melbourne Park for her title defence.
The No.2 seed has not yet dropped a set and - until the tie-breaker in her semi-final against Gauff - she had not conceded more than three games in a set either.
If the title of Australian Open champion had been weighing on Sabalenka, the 25-year-old has certainly not shown it on court.
Sabalenka said she had adopted a pragmatic approach to her Australian Open defence.
“Of course that’s tough (defending at a grand slam), but worst case you’re gonna lose it next year, nothing to defend,” Sabalenka said.
“(It’s) not like I’m ignoring the pressure. I’m just shifting my focus and it’s working well so far.
“It’s one more to go, and I’ll do my best.
“I think I’m pretty calm inside (as) I’m outside. I’m defending champion, but worst case, I’m like ‘I’m gonna lose this tournament, and it’s less points to defend next year. Then that’s it.
“That’s kind of like helping me to just stay focused and just try your best in each match without thinking about defending something.”
Sabalenka, who has now reached the semi-finals at six straight major tournaments, defeated Zheng in straight sets in their only previous meeting in the quarter-finals of the US Open last year.
But she is familiar with the Chinese rising star’s game, having practised with the No.12 seed in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
“We played once but we practised a lot,” Sabalenka said.
“We actually practised here before the tournament, and she’s playing really great tennis. “She’s a really nice girl and playing really great tennis once again. It’s going to be a great battle if I’m gonna face her.
“Her forehand is really heavy and she’s moving well also. Fighting for every point. I think her forehand is her best shot.
“She (has been) 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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