Finalist in Melbourne in 2024, the Chinese Zheng Qinwen (5th in the world) was surprised by the modest German Laura Siegemund (97th) on Wednesday in the 2nd round of the Australian Open, crossed again laboriously by Novak Djokovic.
. Zheng stunned, Sabalenka relieved
A year after a final in Melbourne which revealed her, Qinwen Zheng on Wednesday became the first favorite to leave Melbourne prematurely.
The 22-year-old Chinese was beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by the German Laura Siegemund (97th), oldest in the women’s table at 36 years old.
Zheng Qinwen regretted not taking the “good decisions” on the “important points”to have multiplied the unforced errors and thus failed to break his opponent during the first set.
Faller of the Chinese in the final of the Australian Open in 2024, the world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka punched her ticket for the 3rd round on Wednesday, dominating the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (54th) 6-3, 7 -5.
The match was not easy for the Belarusian, broken twice at the start of the first set and leading 5-2 in the second.
“It’s a Grand Slam”underlined Sabalenka at a press conference. Regardless of the opponent’s ranking, “I have to fight. There are so many girls (…) who play without any fear, with nothing to lose and can put you in a difficult position. Today’s match (Wednesday) proved it again.”.
In the next round, the Belarusian will face the Dane Clara Tauson (42nd), recent winner of the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland.
Beaten by Sabalenka in the final of the last US Open, the American Jessica Pegula (6th) easily dismissed the Belgian Elise Mertens (34th), dominated 6-4, 6-2 in 1h11.
The next opponent on her route will be Serbian Olga Danilovic (55th), who spent even less time on court Wednesday during her 6-1, 6-2 victory against Russian Liudmila Samsonova (21st).
Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts after a point against Czech Karolina Muchova during their women’s singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, January 15, 2025 / Paul Crock / AFP
Double winner in Melbourne (2019 and 2021) and recent finalist in Auckland, the Japanese Naomi Osaka (51st) also advanced to the 3rd round thanks to her victory in three sets against the Czech Karolina Muchova (20th).
In search of a second Grand Slam title after her victory at the US Open in 2023, world No.3 Coco Gauff (20) will face Briton Jodie Burrage (173rd) at the start of the evening.
. Alcaraz mercilessly, Djokovic loses another set
Winner in three sets for his entry into the competition, world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz repeated this performance on Wednesday in the 2nd round by sweeping away the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (65th), eliminated 6-0, 6-1, 6-4.
“Physically, I feel in great shape. I just tried to stay focused and spend as little time as possible.” on the court, declared the four-time Grand Slam winner.
The 21-year-old Spaniard is in search of the last major title he is missing in Melbourne. If he succeeds, he will become the youngest player in history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Ten-time winner of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic once again let a set slip away against the young Portuguese Jaime Faria (125th), finally beaten 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 , 6-2.
Serbian Novak Djokovic reacts after a point against Portuguese Jaime Faria during their men’s singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, January 15, 2025 / WILLIAM WEST / AFP
World No.2 Alexander Zverev, still in search of a first Grand Slam title at the age of 27, will face the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (44th) in the second part of the evening.
Like Sunday during the first round, the day’s schedule was disrupted by the rain which fell in Melbourne around 4:00 p.m. (05:00 GMT).
Matches played on the annex courts, which have no roof, have been suspended until further notice.
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