Top seed Aryna Sabalenka took a step forward in her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title, defeating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in a hard-fought match that concluded in two sets.
The 26-year-old Belarusian overcame a serious test, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 at the iconic Rod Laver Arena after two hours and six minutes of intense play.
With momentum swinging from one side to the other, the two players achieved 11 breaks of serve during a match that showcased their competitive spirit and determination.
“It was a great battle,” Sabalenka reflected after the match. “She played incredible tennis. It was really difficult to face him today. »
Sabalenka expressed her satisfaction at having reached her limits to get the victory: “I’m just super happy that I was able to stay in the match and push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this victory. »
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Aryna Sabalenka overcomes tough match to reach fourth round of Australian Open
-The first set was a back-and-forth affair, with eight of 11 breaks occurring at that point as both women fought hard for the lead. Tauson landed the first hold of serve of the match in the eighth game, creating an atmosphere of tension.
Despite the challenges, Sabalenka managed to break again and, after a thrilling rally where Tauson saved four set points, the world number one seized the opportunity in the fifth to close out the set with a powerful forehand.
The second set mirrored the first, with Sabalenka struggling to find her serve at first. However, she managed to break in the ninth game, which notably lasted more than seven ties, eventually serving for the match and securing the victory, marking her 17th consecutive victory in Melbourne.
Despite the challenges posed by her previous three matches, Sabalenka enters the second week of the tournament without incident, having not lost a single set, and boasts an impressive record of 30 victories in 31 hard-court Grand Slam matches since the start of the tournament. 2023 season.
In the next round, Sabalenka will face either Polish Magdalena Frech or promising young 14th seed Mirra Andreeva.
