Javier Sanchez
Updated Saturday, January 27, 2024-11:26
In the last point of the Australian Open final, the Belarusian
Aryna Sabalenka
had four balls to close her victory, to secure her second consecutive title in Melbourne, and she began to do strange things: double faults, imprecise shots, rushing, nerves . Only the fifth time was the charm. In those moments, for a few moments, she was the Sabalenka of before, too young, an immature tennis player. But she finally won, 6-3 and 6-2 against the Chinese
Zheng Qinwen
in one hour and 16 minutes of play, and confirmed her current figure: facing the dominance of the Polish
Iga Swiatek
, now she is, prepared for glory.
At 25 years old, at the Australian Open he surpassed all his rivals without giving up a single set and with just eight hours on the court. Despite facing rivals such as the Czech
Barbora Krejcíkova
or the American
Coco Gauff
, both Grand Slam winners, no one could stop her or come close to doing so.
With her direct, very hard, powerful tennis, Sabalenka did not grant Qinwen any chance in a final without history. The Chinese woman hesitated, logical at 21 years old, logical in her first Grand Slam final, and when she wanted to react it was already too late. Her only chance, in fact, came too soon: in the first set, already 2-0 down, Qinwen had three break points (0-40) and wasted them. The rest was a show of punches from Sabalenka, firm and determined until that final point where her nerves got to her.
Semifinalist in the four Grand Slams last year, 2024 seems to be the year of her confirmation, even her rise to number one in the WTA ranking. "As always my speech will be strange, public speaking is not my strong suit," he commented at the ceremony after the final, already with the trophy in his hands, and then thanked his team: "I want to thank my team for the work they did. "After Brisbane [lost in the final to
Yelena Rybakina
] I put a lot of pressure on them and they responded."