Aryna Sabalenka stayed on target for a historic third consecutive Australian Open crown on Sunday, ruthlessly blowing away teenager Mirra Andreeva to succeed in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka was in irresistible type on Rod Laver Enviornment, powering to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in simply 62 minutes in opposition to the Russian 17-year-old, the Belarusian’s 18th consecutive win at Melbourne Park. “I am tremendous pleased to get by means of this tough match in straight units,” stated Sabalenka, who will face both Croatian 18th seed Donna Vekic or twenty seventh seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova from Russia subsequent.
“She’s so younger however at all times enjoying nice tennis, it is at all times powerful battles in opposition to her.”
Regardless of registering three straight-sets wins, Sabalenka had not been at her imperious greatest through the first week.
She dropped serve thrice within the second spherical and 5 instances earlier than battling previous Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to succeed in the final 16.
She had no such issues in a lot hotter situations in opposition to Andreeva, ripping by means of her first two service video games with out conceding a degree and breaking for a 4-1 lead.
“Earlier days have been such powerful situations, the ball was so heavy,” stated Sabalenka.
“The ball was flying like a rocket. I hope situations are going to be the identical until the tip of the event.”
Andreeva struggled to stay with Sabalenka’s energy and was being pushed additional again because the champion pulled off a deft drop shot winner to guide 5-1.
A scrumptious backhand cross clinched the set in simply 24 minutes.
Sabalenka didn’t let up initially of the second set, an early break giving her a 3-1 cushion.
Andreeva confirmed a fleeting glimpse of her expertise when saving two break factors within the subsequent.
She then created three of her personal, however all have been saved and the Sabalenka juggernaut couldn’t be stopped as she cruised to the end line.
Sabalenka can full a hat-trick of Australian Open consecutive wins.
It’s a uncommon feat final achieved 26 years in the past by Martina Hingis and solely matched by 4 different ladies in historical past, all legends of the game.
Margaret Courtroom, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are the others to finish the treble.
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Matters talked about on this article
Australian Open 2025
Tennis
