Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dominance at the Australian Open, solidifying her status as the tournament favorite by defeating Zheng Qinwen to secure the women’s title.
The Belarusian second seed clinched victory with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win, claiming her second Grand Slam singles trophy without dropping a set.
Facing the passionate support for 12th seed Zheng, Sabalenka remained composed, swiftly taking control of the match and quelling both her opponent and the crowd’s energy from the outset.
Her achievement marks the first consecutive women’s title since Victoria Azarenka’s triumph in 2013.
Sabalenka, aged 25, emerged as the frontrunner after top seed Iga Swiatek’s early exit in the third round. She followed in the footsteps of her compatriot Azarenka, sealing victory in just over an hour of play.
Reflecting on her win, Sabalenka expressed, “It’s been an amazing couple of weeks, and I couldn’t imagine lifting the trophy another time.”
Culled from BBCSports