Aryna Sabalenka: Defending champion survives first test, last year’s defeated finalist Zheng Qinwen shocked

Defending champion Sabalenka survived her first-round test at the Australian Open, but last year’s defeated finalist Zheng Qinwen was eliminated in the second round.

Chinese star Zheng Shuang made his Grand Slam debut here last year before going on to win Olympic gold and become one of the best players in the world.

But she struggled against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, a 36-year-old known for her doubles prowess, and lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

“I feel like there’s nothing much to say because I tried what I could in this game,” Zheng said. “I felt like maybe today wasn’t my day. There were a lot of details where it mattered. I didn’t make the right choice.”

“I knew I had to play more than my best tennis,” said Sigmund, who earned her first top-10 finish since 2022.

“I had nothing to lose, so I told myself to swing free. She’s an amazing player, she’s one of the best right now. But I knew I could play, I just wanted to make it a A tough fight.”

Sabalenka also trailed Spain’s Jessica Busas Manero 5-2 in the second set, but the top seed overcame her 6-3 7-5 victory at Melbourne Park. The winning streak extended to 16 games.

“I’m very happy to end this match in straight sets,” Sabalenka said. “She played incredible tennis, especially in the second set. I’m really happy that I was able to turn that set around.”

Sabalenka wins in numbers

Since 2023, Sabalenka is 39-3 in Grand Slams after winning the first set — her only loss on hard courts during that period was to Coco Gauff (2023 2016 U.S. Open Tennis Final).

Since 2020, Sabalenka (46 years old) has won the most hard-court women’s singles matches in Grand Slam tournaments, with Iga Swiatek (36 years old) ranking second.

Sabalenka became the first player to win more than 16 consecutive Grand Slam matches on hard courts since Naomi Osaka in 2019.

Sabalenka has won in straight sets in her past 23 women’s singles matches at a Grand Slam event against opponents outside the WTA’s top 50.

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The Belarusians next face the talented young Danes Clara Towsonshe defeated Tatjana Maria 6-2 6-2.

Naomi Osaka She has not advanced beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since winning her second title in Melbourne in 2021.

But the former world No. 1 got off to a strong start to the new season. After defeating Caroline Garcia in the first round, she dropped a set to defeat the No. 20 seed 1-6 6-1 6-3. Karolina Muchova.

Her appeal doesn’t get any easier compared to fellow top ten stars and moms Belinda Bencic Next.

The Swiss will return to Grand Slam tennis following the birth of daughter Bella last April.

Bencic is enjoying the change in routine, saying: “We’re just doing more fun things, trying to go for walks or trying to go to the aquarium. I don’t think I would have gone to the aquarium before.”

“So, it’s definitely changed as far as family time is concerned. It’s different things to do now in terms of preparation, but better because, I think, it takes my focus away from tennis a little bit.”

seventeen years old Mira Andreeva No. 14 seed Mo Yuka Uchijima experienced an extremely fierce match and finally won 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8), while the seventh seed player won 6-4 3-6 7- 6 (10-8) won Jessica Pegula Defeated Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2.

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