Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka labeled Friday’s 6-0, 6-0 annihilation of Lesia Tsurenko on the Australian Open as “perfection” however asserted she may additional enhance, sending a chilling warning to her rivals.
The Belarusian world quantity two has conceded solely six video games in her three matches on the event up to now.
The 25-year-old, who clinched her inaugural Grand Slam crown in Melbourne final yr, goals to develop into the primary girl to defend the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka achieved the feat in 2013.
Wearing vivid crimson, Sabalenka exuded willpower from the onset towards the Ukrainian twenty eighth seed on Rod Laver Arena, cruising to victory in simply 52 minutes.
“I think today’s performance was really, yeah, perfection,” she mentioned. “I’m happy with the level I played today.”
However, she added, “There is always something to improve, you know. That’s why you just can’t be happy with the level you are at right now, so you always have to keep moving, keep improving.”
No handshakes
Sabalenka was final slated to face the Ukrainian at Indian Wells final yr, however Tsurenko withdrew after experiencing a panic assault whereas discussing tennis’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with officers.
Belarus was used as a staging floor for the invasion.
Reigning champion and second seed Sabalenka is taking part in at Melbourne Park with out an official nationwide affiliation, following situations imposed on Russian and Belarusian gamers by event organizers because the invasion.
The match itself was a one-sided affair performed out in a subdued environment on Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka ruthlessly handed the twenty eighth seed Tsurenko the dreaded “double bagel” in 52 minutes.
There was no conventional handshake over the web on the finish of the match, with the gamers merely acknowledging one another with a wave earlier than heading off court docket.
“This situation has been happening for a long time on tour, and I understand and respect everyone’s position,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“She was quite respectful. She said, ‘great play.’ She didn’t shake my hand, but she was respectful to me, so I appreciate that.”
Tsurenko mentioned she would proceed to not shake the fingers of Russian and Belarusian gamers to focus on the continued plight of the folks of Ukraine because the second anniversary of the invasion approaches.
Seeds crash
The draw is opening up for Sabalenka, with third seed Elena Rybakina, fifth seed Jessica Pegula, and sixth seed Ons Jabeur already ousted, however she cautioned towards complacency.
“Listen, it’s tennis,” she mentioned. “As we see with some of the top players losing in the earlier matches, anything can happen.”
Tsurenko had no reply to Sabalenka’s devastating energy and will muster solely a paltry 11 factors within the first set in comparison with Sabalenka’s 27.
It was an identical story within the second set.
Tsurenko had two factors to get on the board within the second recreation on her personal serve, however Sabalenka slammed the door shut to interrupt once more.
She didn’t let up, smashing 10 winners previous her hapless opponent within the set, sealing victory by breaking for the third time when Tsurenko dumped a forehand into the web.
Sabalenka loved a breakthrough in 2023. In addition to successful the Australian Open, she made the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon earlier than shedding to Coco Gauff within the US Open remaining.
No participant will fancy taking her on in Melbourne, the place she is but to be remotely examined.
She breezed previous German qualifier Ella Seidel within the first spherical, shedding only one recreation, and romped dwelling 6-3, 6-2 towards 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova within the second spherical.
She has been on court docket for lower than three hours over her three matches.
In sharp distinction, prime seed Iga Swiatek has already been in motion for greater than 5 hours over simply two rounds.
In the fourth spherical, Sabalenka will face unseeded American Amanda Anisimova, taking part in her first Grand Slam since taking an eight-month psychological well being break.
“First of all, I’m happy that she’s back on tour,” Sabalenka mentioned of Anisimova, towards whom she has a 4-1 shedding file.
“Secondly, we had a number of nice matches towards one another, all the time robust battles.
“I’m happy that my first week was not simple, but it wasn’t, like, super-long matches. Yeah, the first week is past. You know, like now it’s time to focus on the next week.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
