Sabalenka is a s'employer
She has still not lost a set, but Aryna Sabalenka did not walk around this Wednesday at the opening of the program on the Rod Laver Arena. The double title holder and world number 1 had a lot to do to overcome the resistance of the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 54th in the WTA, in two tight sets (6-3, 7-5) and 1h34 of play. 3rd round, she has a meeting with the young Dane Clara Tauson, who has just won the title in Auckland.
As she made the entry break, she seemed to be out for a walk. But Aryna Sabalenka was tested this Wednesday. On the other side of the net, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro broke twice consecutively before letting go in the first set. And the Spaniard, whose counterattacks and timing from the baseline worked wonders, did better in the second as she served to reset the counters to 5-3 in her favor. Unfortunately for her, Sabalenka chose this moment to raise her voice and end up like a cannonball by winning the last four games. But the Belarusian will have to erase some waste in the future.
Osaka sends a message
From match to match, it regains thickness. Already very much to her advantage during the first week of the year despite her retirement in the final in Auckland, Naomi Osaka confirms at the start of the Australian Open that she is playing tennis very well again. The proof? The Japanese took the scalp this Wednesday of Karolina Muchova, seeded 20 in the tournament, overthrowing her with a score of 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in just under two hours of play (1h57 precisely ). For the first time in the 3rd round of a Grand Slam tournament since her return just a year ago, she will face the Swiss Belinda Bencic.
His joy was infectious. After the match point, Naomi Osaka jumped with satisfaction, displaying a radiant smile. Yet totally dominated at the start of the game, the Japanese found the keys to react and impose her punch on the brilliant Karolina Muchova. Once she achieved her first break on her 8th attempt at the start of the 2nd set (1-6, 3-1), the Japanese took control and never let go. Hard-hitting and very leggy, she had a great revenge of the US Open on the Czech. And unlike last year, the double champion in Melbourne seems on track to find continuity in her performances.
-Zheng does not confirm
The first big surprise of the day came from John Cain Arena. Finalist last year in Melbourne, Olympic champion in Paris, finalist again at the last Masters and world number 5, Qinwen Zheng was eliminated in the 2nd round by the 97th in the WTA ranking, Laura Siegemund. The German won in two tight sets (7-6, 6-3) and 2h16 of play. To create the sensation, she relied on 80% of first serves and 29 winning shots.
Pegula expeditious
We don't talk much about her. However, Jessica Pegula remains on course for a Grand Slam final at the US Open. And the American is showing her spleen at the start of the tournament. The 7th seed easily dominated Belgian Elise Mertens, 34th in the world, in two sets (6-4, 6-2) and 1h11 of play in the 2nd round of the Australian Open. With 24 winning shots for 10 unforced errors, she completely suffocated her opponent. For a place in the second week, she will challenge the Serbian Olga Danilovic.
