Aryna Sabalenka has become the first woman since Victoria Azarenka to win back-to-back Australian Open titles after a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday.
The Belarusian second seed, who did not drop a set throughout the tournament, overpowered the Chinese 12th seed with her aggressive baseline game and powerful serve. Sabalenka hit 25 winners and seven aces, while Zheng struggled to cope with the pressure of her first Grand Slam final.
Sabalenka, who avenged her US Open final loss to Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, said she was proud of her performance and happy to emulate her compatriot, Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.
“I’m really happy to win this title again. It’s a special feeling to defend a Grand Slam. I want to thank my team, my family and my fans for their support. And of course, I want to congratulate Zheng on a great tournament. She’s a great player, and I’m sure she will have many more chances in the future,” Sabalenka said after the match.
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Zheng, who became the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Li Na in 2014, said she was disappointed with the result but proud of her achievement.
“I tried my best today, but Aryna was too strong. She played amazing tennis and deserved to win. I want to thank everyone who supported me during this tournament. It was an incredible experience and I learned a lot. I hope I can come back stronger next time,” Zheng said.
The match was briefly interrupted by two protesters who unfurled a Palestine flag and chanted “Free Gaza” before they were escorted out of the arena by security. It was the third protest to have briefly paused a match in Melbourne this year.