Sabalenka qualifies in pain for the round of 16

Double title holder in Melbourne, world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka qualified on Friday January 17 with difficulty for the round of 16 of the Australian Open. Often fragile in her service games against the Dane Clara Tauson (42^e), the Belarusian nevertheless won 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 against the recent winner of the Auckland tournament, whom she faced for the first time.

Neither player managed to maintain her serve during the first seven games of the match. The first set was finally won in a tie-break (7/5) by Sabalenka, who needed five set points to conclude.

In the second act, the Belarusian broke away at 3-1, before being broken again by Tauson who recovered at 4-4. After a game of almost a quarter of an hour, Sabalenka once again managed to break her opponent before winning on her serve (6-4).

Iga Swiatek ambushed

In the next round, the world number 1 will face the Polish Magdalena Frech (26^e) or the young Russian Mirra Andreeva, 15^e world at 17.

According to the WTA, Sabalenka must reach at least the semi-finals of the Australian Open to hope to retain the lead in the world hierarchy, which is being contested by her runner-up Iga Swiatek (2^e).

If she wins the title in Melbourne, the queen of the women’s circuit would be the first player since Martina Hingis (1997-1999) to win the Australian Open three years in a row.