For the first time since 2012-13, the Australian Open has a repeat women’s singles champion.
Women’s Tennis Association No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Qinwen Zheng in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch her second grand slam trophy.
Last January, she defeated Elena Rybakina in a three-set final, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, as part of her current string of six consecutive semifinal appearances at the four grand slam events.
This title run was her most dominant, with the 25-year-old not dropping a single set in her seven matches at the tournament. Sabalenka joined an illustrious group of women with that accomplishment since 2000, including Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.
Victoria Azarenka was the last women’s tennis player to win back-to-back Aussie Open titles. Since 2000, Jennifer Capriati (2001-02) and Williams (2009-10) are the only other women to do so.
Australian tennis legend Rod Laver congratulated Sabalenka on social media, saying there’s “no holding you back.”
Afterward, Sabalenka discussed her desire to win a second grand slam. “I didn’t want to be that player who win… and then disappeared,” she told reporters.
She was also candid about the pressure of winning a second title being just as great as the first and said she finally understood why multi-time grand slam champions still get emotional after a win.
“I was watching all these champions crying after each slam … like, ‘Come on, you’ve done it like, 15 times. Why are you still crying?’ Right now… I feel like I understand why they’re still crying,” she said.
Based on how she has played the past few years, Sabalenka should probably start packing tissues.
