Aryna Sabalenka: Defending champion survives first test as last year’s beaten-finalist Qinwen Zheng is shocked

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first Australian Open test, but
last year’s beaten finalist Qinwen Zheng suffered a shock second-round exit.

Chinese star Zheng reached her first Grand Slam showpiece here last year before going on to win Olympic gold and establish herself as one of the best players in the world.

But she came unstuck against German Laura Siegemund, a 36-year-old better known for her prowess in doubles, going down 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

“I think not much to say because I tried what I can do during this match,” said Zheng. “I feel maybe today is not my day. There’s a lot of details in the important points. I didn’t do the right choice.”

“I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis,” said Siegemund, who earned her first top-10 win since 2022.

“I had nothing to lose so I told myself to swing free. She’s an amazing player, she’s one of the best players now. But I know I can play and I just wanted to make it a tough fight.”

Sabalenka was also in trouble down 5-2 in the second set to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, but the top seed extended her winning run at Melbourne Park to 16 matches with a 6-3 7-5 victory.

“I’m super happy to have finished this match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka. “She played incredible tennis, especially in the second set. I’m really happy I was able to turn around that set.”

Tale of the Tape

The Belarusian next faces talented young Dane Clara Tauson, who was a 6-2 6-2 winner over Tatjana Maria.

Naomi Osaka has not gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since winning her second title in Melbourne in 2021.

But the former world No 1 has started the season strongly and she followed up her first-round win over Caroline Garcia by coming from a set down to see off 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-1 6-3.

Her draw does not get any easier with former top-10 star and fellow mother Belinda Bencic up next.

The Swiss is making her return to Grand Slam tennis following the birth of daughter Bella last April.

Bencic is enjoying the change in routine, saying: “We’re just doing more fun stuff and trying to go out for a walk or trying to go to the aquarium. I don’t think I would be going to the aquarium before.

“So, just in terms of family time, it’s definitely changed. Different things to do now in terms of preparation, but it’s better because it takes, I think, my mind off tennis a little bit.”

Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva came through an extremely tight clash against Moyuka Uchijima, the 14th seed eventually winning 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8), while seventh seed Jessica Pegula saw off Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2.

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