MELBOURNE, January 27

Aryna Sabalenka produced an utterly dominant display to become the first woman in 11 years to retain the Australian Open title and send out a warning to her rivals with her second Grand Slam title today.

The Belarusian blew away Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in 76 minutes with a show of power that overwhelmed the Chinese 12th seed, emulating compatriot Victoria Azarenka’s 2012-13 feat by winning the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup back-to-back at the Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka came into the match without having dropped a set at the year’s first Major and stayed perfect to join Ash Barty, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport in the elite club of players to have done so this century.

“I’m speechless right now,” Sabalenka said at her press conference as she sipped a glass of wine. “I don’t know how to describe my emotions. But definitely I’m super, super happy and proud of everything I was able to achieve so far. Yeah, just happy with the level I played today. She’s a great player and very tough opponent.”

Sabalenka dropped only one set at last year’s tournament and her dominance this year is a further reflection of the maturity and emotional control she has built in the last 12 months. Her rip-roaring form has helped her reach at least the semifinals at the last six Majors including at Wimbledon last year, having missed the 2022 event due to Russian and Belarusian players being banned. — Reuters

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