Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a primary Australian Open check, however
final 12 months’s crushed finalist Qinwen Zheng suffered a shock second-round exit.
Chinese language star Zheng reached her first Grand Slam showpiece right here final 12 months earlier than occurring to win Olympic gold and set up herself as probably the greatest gamers on the planet.
However she got here unstuck towards German Laura Siegemund, a 36-year-old higher recognized for her prowess in doubles, taking place 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
“I think not much to say because I tried what I can do during this match,” stated Zheng. “I feel maybe today is not my day. There’s a lot of details in the important points. I didn’t do the right choice.”
“I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis,” stated Siegemund, who earned her first top-10 win since 2022.
“I had nothing to lose so I told myself to swing free. She’s an amazing player, she’s one of the best players now. But I know I can play and I just wanted to make it a tough fight.”
Sabalenka was additionally in bother down 5-2 within the second set to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, however the high seed prolonged her successful run at Melbourne Park to 16 matches with a 6-3 7-5 victory.
“I’m super happy to have finished this match in straight sets,” stated Sabalenka. “She played incredible tennis, especially in the second set. I’m really happy I was able to turn around that set.”
Story of the Tape
The Belarusian subsequent faces gifted younger Dane Clara Tauson, who was a 6-2 6-2 winner over Tatjana Maria.
Naomi Osaka has not gone past the third spherical of a Grand Slam since successful her second title in Melbourne in 2021.
However the former world No 1 has began the season strongly and he or she adopted up her first-round win over Caroline Garcia by coming from a set all the way down to see off twentieth seed Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-1 6-3.
Her draw doesn’t get any simpler with former top-10 star and fellow mom Belinda Bencic up subsequent.
The Swiss is making her return to Grand Slam tennis following the delivery of daughter Bella final April.
Bencic is having fun with the change in routine, saying: “We’re just doing more fun stuff and trying to go out for a walk or trying to go to the aquarium. I don’t think I would be going to the aquarium before.
“So, simply when it comes to household time, it is positively modified. Various things to do now when it comes to preparation, however it’s higher as a result of it takes, I believe, my thoughts off tennis somewhat bit.”
Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva got here by way of an especially tight conflict towards Moyuka Uchijima, the 14th seed ultimately successful 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8), whereas seventh seed Jessica Pegula noticed off Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2.
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