Aryna Sabalenka had a match point in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open, leading 5-2 in the second set of a fast-paced match.
In the majority of the match, the final game seemed to be favoring the Belarusian player. With a score of 40-0, the defending champion had three opportunities to win the match. The engraver was prepared with his tools.
“Come on,” one supporter cheered, the common expression of encouragement among Chinese sports fans. “Come on,” another repeated. They were there to support Zheng Qinwen, who will achieve a spot in the top 10 rankings for the first time after this competition.
The 21-year-old competitor, who easily advanced through the rounds without facing any other highly-ranked players, seemed to improve. She successfully defended against one match point, then another, and finally a third. This caused Sabalenka to show frustration for the first time. The audience of nearly 15,000 people had spent money on their tickets and were finally getting their money’s worth in terms of entertainment. This was the most competitive match they had witnessed all evening.
During the duel, both players were evenly matched and Zheng refused to back down. Sabalenka made a mistake and expressed her annoyance by rolling her eyes. Two points later, she tossed a ball in frustration. She couldn’t help but wonder how much longer she had to endure this match.
For those in attendance and the millions watching from home, a longer duration would have been appreciated. After all, Tennis Australia’s chairperson, Jayne Hrdlicka, praised the Australian Open as “one of the top entertainment and sporting events in the world” after the match concluded.
The event was commemorating the arrival of one million spectators in the last three weeks, setting a new record. However, during the beginning of the game, the event organizers appeared to be reconsidering allowing a young woman to attend. She was wearing a cap and what looked like a Golden State Warriors jersey and was reprimanded by security for being too loud. She was sitting near important guests, and the staff seemed concerned about her behavior causing a disturbance. While it may have a rich history, Rod Laver Arena is known for maintaining a certain level of decorum.
Upon further inspection, it becomes evident that there is a strong international presence. Sponsors from various continents are represented, including a Chinese alcoholic beverage. Additionally, there were numerous Chinese flags displayed in the stands, with enthusiastic Zheng supporters holding over a dozen of them.
Unfortunately, Zheng’s opponent’s Belarusian flag has been prohibited due to their involvement in the invasion of Ukraine. This decision serves as a reminder of the intricate geopolitical landscape that is often overlooked at Melbourne Park.
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China and Belarus hardly have reputations as model global citizens. But in Sabalenka and Zheng, officials have struck gold. Both marketable heroes, seemingly well-liked by other players on the tour, with extraordinary skill with the racket. Both were friendly and gracious in their post-match address, and their achievements on the court have been sensational.
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The spectators were constantly amazed by the intense groundstrokes traded between the players in this match, just like in any other match. Despite Zheng being clearly outplayed and getting broken in her first service game in each set, she still managed to hit more winning shots than Sabalenka. Her second serve was the only aspect of her game that let her down.
As defending champion, Sabalenka enjoys a warm relationship with Melbourne Park’s patrons, yet it was Zheng that enjoyed the more fervent support. It was helped by her choice of outfit, a green and gold dress. And as she struggled to stay in touch with Sabalenka, the underdog garnered even greater favour.
Despite being known as the “happy slam” and being marketed as the major tournament for Asia-Pacific, not everyone was accepted at this event. During the second set, two protestors disrupted the match by displaying a Palestine flag. Their actions were met with a chorus of boos and they were promptly removed. Soon after, Zheng won a game and the cheers that followed seemed to express both relief and support.
After a few minutes, in the lengthy final match, the audience was treated to something more appealing. Sabalenka managed to overcome her frustration, with an ace and a nonchalant gesture to save a break point. She let out a sigh of relief. Despite lasting only 76 minutes, the match showcased exceptional tennis skills and concluded with a smile from Sabalenka.
Source: theguardian.com
