Since the start of her title defense two weeks ago, Aryna Sabalenka has been fully prepared. Not only has she displayed incredibly powerful shots, but she has also shown impressive emotional growth by brushing off the pressure of defending her first grand slam title. Instead, she remains focused on each individual point.
Throughout the tournament, it was evident that Sabalenka was performing at a superior level compared to her opponents. However, she still had to maintain her composure under the intense pressure of a major final. She demonstrated unwavering efficiency in defending her title, overpowering Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 to claim her second grand slam victory.
In her impressive debut year, Sabalenka reached the top and it is unlikely that she will experience a downturn in her second year. She is only the second woman in the Open Era to win her first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, following in the footsteps of her fellow Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka, who achieved this feat in 2012 and 2013.
“I’ve been experiencing some pressure over the past two weeks, but I’m thrilled that I was able to handle it and compete at such a high level,” she stated. “It’s an amazing feeling and it’s difficult to put into words just how incredible it is.”
On this occasion, she dominated the tournament without losing a single set. The only player to win more than three games against her was Coco Gauff, who lost 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the semi-finals. She only lost 31 games in total, second only to Ash Barty for the least amount of games lost on the way to an Australian Open title in the 21st century.
Most importantly, Sabalenka has further underlined her intentions and ability to continue stacking up titles. The 25-year-old plays high octane, attacking tennis, but it is incredible how consistent she is across all surfaces and conditions. In her past six grand slam tournaments, Sabalenka has finished with two titles, while making a final and three semi-finals.
Despite Sabalenka’s successful performances in major tournaments last year, she often struggled with mental breakdowns. However, her ability to handle the pressure in this tournament, especially after defeating some of her toughest opponents, could foreshadow a strong year ahead. She mentioned her defeat to Gauff in the US Open final, where she had a one-set lead, as a valuable lesson.
“I have undergone significant personal and professional growth,” she stated. “I have gained valuable experience competing in the final stages of grand slam tournaments, and the loss I experienced at the US Open was a difficult moment for me.”
The defeat served as a strong motivation for me to put in more effort and enhance my skills. This will make me more confident and self-assured when I compete in the final again.
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During the match, there was a brief interruption caused by protesters showing their support for the Palestinian people. While Sabalenka was leading 6-3, 2-0, two individuals unfolded a Palestine flag and chanted “Free Gaza” before being removed from the arena by security. This marks the third protest at this event in the current year.
The Australian Open often markets itself as the major tennis tournament in the Asia-Pacific region, and the initial rounds of the competition demonstrated why. Zheng had strong support from the crowd, and a significant number of Chinese fans in Rod Laver Arena made their presence known from the start with enthusiastic shouts of “jiayou,” which roughly means “Come on!” Unfortunately, there was not much for them to celebrate.
Sabalenka’s fierceness sharply contrasts with her carefree attitude away from the heat of battle. Before the final, she distracted herself from the big occasion by signing her autograph on the head of her bald fitness coach, then placing a drinks bottle on his head and roundhouse kicking it off.
She and her team maintained a jovial atmosphere and she appeared calm as she entered the court. Sabalenka quickly dominated the match with her strong shots, breaking serve and taking a 3-0 lead.
As the initial group was revealed, Sabalenka’s unyielding strength, range, and accuracy quickly overtook Zheng, who favors slower settings that give her more opportunity to prepare her shots. Despite Zheng’s solid performance in maintaining her serve afterwards, she was unable to challenge Sabalenka’s serve.
After dominating the bracket where the highest-ranked players were eliminated, Zheng advanced to her first major tournament championship without having to beat anyone ranked in the top 50 in the world. She was not ready for the intense pressure that Sabalenka put on her, causing her to feel overwhelmed and constantly play from a defensive position during rallies.
Although Zheng performed well in the second half of the first set, the pressure she was under was evident when she committed three double faults in the first game of the second set, ultimately giving up the break. After this, Sabalenka became more confident and unleashed powerful shots, solidifying her status as one of the top players of her time.
Source: theguardian.com
