Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka showcased her prowess at the Australian Open, breezing into the final 16 with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory over Lesia Tsurenko at Rod Laver Arena. The 25-year-old claimed her first Grand Slam title Down Under a year ago and continued her dominance, requiring just 52 minutes for a double-bagel win. Sabalenka’s 10 consecutive wins make her the first woman since Serena Williams (2017-2019) to achieve such a feat at the Australian Open.
Despite her remarkable form, Sabalenka faces a formidable challenge in her next match against Amanda Anisimova, who has historically troubled her. Anisimova has won four of their five career meetings, including a victory at the 2019 Australian Open.
In another standout performance, Coco Gauff confidently moved into the fourth round by defeating Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-2. Gauff, the fourth seed, extends her Grand Slam win streak to 10 matches, dating back to her title run in New York last fall. The 19-year-old American, now 8-0 in the new season, remains undefeated, and has lost only one set.
Gauff’s next challenge awaits in either Magdalena Frech or qualifier Anastasia Zakharova, with a quarterfinal spot on the line. Her impressive record places her among the elite American teenagers in the Open Era, joining the ranks of Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, and Serena Williams with 10 consecutive Grand Slam singles victories.
–IANS
