Defending her title at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the fourth round by convincingly defeating Lesia Tsurenko with a commanding score of 6-0, 6-0 in a match that lasted 52 minutes. Sabalenka, the second seed and reigning champion, has displayed exceptional form, having lost only six games across the three rounds of the tournament so far.
In a light-hearted comment, Aryna Sabalenka mentioned her desire to emulate Iga Swiatek, who won numerous sets 6-0 last year, highlighting the goal to approach such impressive achievements. Sabalenka expressed immense satisfaction with her current playing level and expressed hopes to maintain or even surpass it in the upcoming matches.
Observing the diplomatic stance in line with the ongoing geopolitical situation, Aryna Sabalenka and Lesia Tsurenko did not engage in the customary handshake. However, Tsurenko verbally conveyed her congratulations to Sabalenka following the match.
Aryna Sabalenka is set to face Amanda Anisimova in the upcoming round after both players secured victories in their respective matches. Sabalenka dominated Lesia Tsurenko with a 6-0, 6-0 victory, while Anisimova continued her comeback by defeating Paula Badosa with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-4. The match promises to be an intriguing contest as both players aim to advance further in the tournament.
Amanda Anisimova expressed her amazement at her current performance, emphasizing that taking a step back from the game has provided her with a new perspective. She mentioned that staying present and avoiding getting too caught up in the past or future has been a key focus for her.
Sabalenka anticipates a challenging contest against Anisimova, acknowledging that Anisimova has emerged victorious in four out of their five previous encounters.
“Last year‘s Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals, to try to get closer to her. I’m just super-happy with the level I’m playing so far. Hopefully, I can just keep going like that or even better,” Sabalenka joked after her 6-0, 6-0 win over Lesia Tsurenko at the Australian Open.