ARYNA SABALENKA defended her Australian Open women’s singles title with a brutal demolition of Qinwen Zheng in Melbourne despite protesters interrupting play.
The Belarussian – whose nationality is not permitted to be displayed on the trophy – cruised to a 6-3 6-2 victory in 76 minutes on the Rod Laver Arena.
That was despite the one-sided clash being interrupted by pro-Palestine protestors.
Zheng, 21, was trailing her rival by a set as she prepared to serve in the third game of the second set when there was shouting from a number of people in the crowd.
The individuals waved Palestinian flags before security quickly hauled them out.
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Aside from that brief disruption, it was an awesome display of brutal force and power by Sabalenka as she became the first person since fellow countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to retain the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
Yet like 12 months ago, the abbreviation BLR for Belarus cannot be shown anywhere as she is operating under a neutral flag due to her country’s military assistance for Russia in the ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Sabalenka – who annoyingly and distractingly screeches during every single point – came into this final without dropping a set from six matches.
Physically, she was the fresher of the two women, having spent four-and-a-half hours less time on court over the past fortnight.
Zheng’s passage may have taken longer but the draw had really opened up – the highest-ranked tennis player she had faced until now had been Britain’s Katie Boulter, at 54 in the world, in the second round.
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As befits the world No.2, Sabalenka, 25, was aggressive from the outset, bulldozing her way through the opening game without dropping a point and blasting down a 111mph ace.
The standard was set from those early moments and despite squandering a few set points in the first set, she moved 1-0 ahead on 33 minutes.
Powerful, strong and authoritative, Sabalenka broke the Zheng serve in the opening game of the second set and never looked back, annihilating any wayward second serves that came in her direction.
What helped her cause was Zheng’s lack of consistency – six double faults in a final, even if it is your first one, is unacceptable.
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There was a time, only a few years ago, when Sabalenka would struggle with her service motion and would choke in the big moments.
Those days are long gone and the tiger tattoo on her left forearm typifies the fighting qualities she possesses and demonstrates, particularly when she had to remain patient after wasting four Championship points.
Stretching back to the start of 2023, Sabalenka has won 14 matches in a row on Melbourne Park, winning 28 out of 29 successive sets.
With two titles on her CV, she will no doubt head to Wimbledon later this summer with strong belief that she can make in-roads on Centre Court grass.
Zheng had been trying to become just the second Chinese person to lift a Grand Slam singles title in the sport’s history.
The first, Li Na, was in the stands but her presence did not have an inspirational impact and she will remain her country’s flagbearer for now.
The last time someone lost fewer than five games in a women’s final was Maria Sharapova when she was crushed 6-3 6-0 by Azarenka 12 years ago.
