Sabalenka vs. Zheng: Australian Open 2024 women's final
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/liveblog/2024/1/27/live-aryna-sabalenka-vs-zheng-qinwen-australian-open-2024-womens-final
This live page is now closed. These were the updates as Aryna Sabalenka beat Zheng Qinwen (6-3, 6-2) to win the 2024 Australian Open women’s singles title on Saturday, January 27:
Sabalenka wins back-to-back Australian Open titles, cruising to a straight sets victory over Zheng in the final at the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park. Second-seeded Sabalenka was the defending champion, while the 12th-seeded Zheng was playing her first Grand Slam final. The 25-year-old Belarusian, who briefly displaced Iga Swiatek at number one in the rankings last season, had previously faced the 21-year-old from China only once, beating Zheng in the US Open quarterfinals a few months ago. Zheng will make her debut in the top 10 in Monday’s rankings, despite the loss.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10106807-aryna-sabalenkas-dominant-2024-australian-open-womens-final-win-leaves-fans-in-awe
Aryna Sabalenka is an unstoppable force at the Australian Open after capturing her second straight tournament title in easy fashion with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Qinwen Zheng in the final on Saturday.
The 25-year-old needed just 75 minutes to secure the victory. She won 40 of 57 service points, including going 32-of-38 on first serves.
The win capped off an impressive two-week run for Sabalenka, who won each of her seven matches in straight sets. The only person to win more than four games in a set was Coco Gauff, who forced a tiebreak in the first set of the semifinal.
Sabalenka joins an impressive list of women's players who have won the Australian Open without dropping a set since 2000.
Fans were left in awe of a dominant showing for Sabalenka, both on Saturday and throughout the tournament.
It's safe to assume Sabalenka is the most dominant player on the WTA circuit right now. She has advanced to the semifinal in each of the past five Grand Slam tournaments since the start of 2023, with three finals appearances and two titles during that span.
Sabalenka's 31 games lost in the entire tournament are the second-fewest for any women's player at the Australian Open in the 21st century, trailing only Ashleigh Barty's 30 in 2022.
The win makes Sabalenka one of two active players with multiple Grand Slam titles at the age of 25 or younger. Top-ranked Iga ?wi?tek has four at the age of 22, with three coming at the French Open.
Sabalenka and ?wi?tek have played nine head-to-head matches, but only one has come at a Grand Slam event. ?wi?tek has a 6-3 edge, including a three-set win at the 2022 U.S. Open semifinal.
Roland Garros will be the next opportunity for Sabalenka and ?wi?tek to renew their rivalry in a Grand Slam tournament. The French Open begins on May 20.
Qinwen Zheng v Aryna Sabalenka Extended Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Final
