Aryna Sabalenka planning to celebrate in style after defending Australian Open without dropping a set
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Published 27/01/2024 at 12:31 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka said she was ready for a "big party" after becoming a two-time Grand Slam champion with a dominant defence of her Australian Open title by beating Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-2 in Saturday’s final. The Belarusian "surprised herself" with the level of her tennis as she did not drop a single set in Melbourne as she looks to topple Iga Swiatek as world No. 1 in 2024.
'I'm still trying to process it' - Sabalenka after her Australian Open title defence
Aryna Sabalenka said she was ready for a "big party” after becoming a two-time Grand Slam champion with a dominant defence of her Australian Open title by beating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in Saturday’s final.
The Belarusian did not drop a single set in Melbourne to underline her status as the world’s form player despite still trailing Iga Swiatek in the world rankings.
But Sabalenka is hoping for a safer celebration than 12 months ago, when - after ending her wait to become a Grand Slam champion - the festivities got out of hand.
"Yes it will be a big party, last time the wife of my agent twisted her ankle! This time we’ll make sure no one gets injured and celebrate it,” the world No. 2 told Eurosport’s Barbara Schett.
"I’m super happy, I couldn’t have imagined myself winning one Grand Slam, let alone winning twice in a row and it’s just crazy. I’m still trying to process it, I’m just super happy and super proud. My brain isn’t working!”
Sabalenka reached at least the semi-finals of all four majors last year and briefly toppled Swiatek to reach the top of the world rankings.
And she has started 2024 in top form, reaching the final of the Brisbane Open and dominating throughout the fortnight in Melbourne as her opponents had no answer to her mixture of power and precision from the back of the court.
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Australian Open final highlights: Sabalenka is champion again after triumph over Zheng
"I would say I surprised myself, these two weeks,” added Sabalenka. "I’ve been under pressure and I tried to ignore them and tried to focus on myself, just trying so hard to not think about everything that is going on.
"I was working so hard, and yes I was surprised at the level I was playing, hopefully I can keep it up, keep working hard and keep improving myself, so every time I play, I bring this level or even better.”
The only blip on what was a cruise to victory over the inexperienced Zheng, who was competing in her first Grand Slam final, came when Sabalenka had to serve out for the match. Sabalenka needed five match points to get over the line and even saved a break point.
"I don’t know what was going on through my mind in that moment, I just wanted to test my team! [Coach] Anton [Dubrov] told me after the match ‘my knees are still shaking!’ It wasn’t the best moment, but it’s something you expect.
"You serve for the match, for the biggest title, I was a little bit nervous and I’m happy I was able to close that game and the match.”
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'Just monstrous' - Incredible return from Sabalenka thwarts Zheng in final
For Sabalenka, the focus will now turn to reproducing the tennis she has shown in Australia over the past two years in the other three slams.
Eurosport’s Mats Wilander believes Sabalenka will win "seven or eight” majors in the coming years.
"The big difference between her and a lot of other players who win majors is she is clearly overpowering these players,” said the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
"She is hitting the ball with more power than anyone on the women’s tour. I think it’s going to translate into really good results, and probably win more majors on the other surfaces too.
"I’m going to go out on a limb - I don’t think she wins two, three, I think she wins seven, eight majors in the next three or four years because she’s so much better now than she was two years ago in my eyes.”
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