The Australian Open women’s singles champion will be crowned tonight when Aryna Sabalenka takes on Zheng Qinwen at Rod Laver Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the action from 7:30pm (AEDT).
For Sabalenka, this is a chance for the world no.2 to win her second grand slam title and her second Australian Open. For Zheng, it is new territory – her best result in a relatively short career has been the quarter-finals at last year’s US Open.
Sabalenka has enjoyed a great run during this year’s Australian Open, not losing a set along her way to the final. Her 7-6 6-4 semi-final win over Coco Gauff was her toughest to date, with both players playing great tennis before the Belarusian star exacted some revenge for her US Open final defeat.
Zheng has only been playing Grand Slam tournaments for two years, so her rise to 15 in the world has been nothing short of meteoric. She will enter into the WTA top 10, win or lose tonight.
Zheng has had some fortune in the tournament, not playing a seeded player until the final. In the semi-finals, she comfortably defeated Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-4. She has arguably the heaviest forehand in women’s tennis, and that will need to be on song to challenge Sabalenka.
Prediction
Zheng’s quarter-final run at the 2023 US Open was brought to a halt by Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4. That is the only time these two have played.
Zheng has improved since then, but Sabalenka’s form over the last fortnight has been superb and it’s difficult to see anything other than a second slam for the second seed.
Sabalenka in straight sets.
Venue: Rod Laver Arena
Start Time: 7:30pm (AEDT)
TV: Channel 9
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Sabalenka $5.00, Zheng $1.18 – odds via PlayUp
Blink
Roar Rookie
Sabelenka is the new Serena Williams. Over powering opponents with a controlled aggressive power game. Zheng looks very capable but Arynya is dominant.
Blink
Roar Rookie
That was her teams fault :))
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining the blog tonight. I will be back tomorrow night for the Men's Singles Final. It promises to be a classic
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sabalenka thanks Evonne for the inspiration. She has given Zheng a big compliment. There's a few tears here as she thanks the tournament, her team, her family and the fans
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sabalenka comes on to collect the trophy. Back to back winner
David Holden
Roar Guru
Zheng has spoken really well but is obviously disappointed. She has thanked Aryna, the fans and her team. The Australian Open also gets a favourable mention
David Holden
Roar Guru
Zheng has nothing to be ashamed of tonight. Just beaten by a better player on the night
David Holden
Roar Guru
Evonne Goolagong-Cawley is present tonight
David Holden
Roar Guru
I will hang around for the presentation which is underway
David Holden
Roar Guru
This win leaves Sabalenka a little short of Swiatek's number one ranking but I think a position reversal is not far away
David Holden
Roar Guru
I think she will be a very popular champion. Her personality shines on court and her relationship with her team is obviously very strong
Tim Miller
Editor
One of the more one-sided finals I can remember. Sabalenka utterly dominant as she has been all tournament. Most baffling result of the tennis summer is her 6-0, 6-3 loss in the Brisbane International final!
David Holden
Roar Guru
Aryna Sabalenka has won her second grand slam but you get the feeling she will win plenty more. She was highly favoured pre match and always looked in total control of this one
David Holden
Roar Guru
MATCH - SABALENKA 6-3 6-2 Wide serve and forehand winner and Sabalenka goes back to back Australian Opens Sabalenka 6 6 Zheng 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Rally and Zheng sends her forehand long. Match point
David Holden
Roar Guru
Huge ace out wide and it's deuce
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big forehands from Zheng and she has break point!
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sabalenka nets the forehand and we are back to deuce
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great sliding serve and another match point
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good rally and Zheng wins with a drop point. Deuce