Sabalenka defends Australian Open crown

January 28, 2024, 11:31 am

<p>Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka<em> (Anadolu)</em></p>

Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka (Anadolu)

ANKARA – Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka won the 2024 Australian Open women's singles title on Saturday.

The Belarusian second seed beat China's Qinwen Zheng, the world No. 12, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka, displaying a dominant performance, retained the title for the second Grand Slam singles championship of her career.

Zheng appeared in her first major final.

During the final, Zheng made 16 unforced errors.

In addition, the Chinese player committed six double faults throughout the match. Sabalenka made no mistakes while serving in the 2024 Final.

Separately in the second set, two spectators at Rod Laver Arena shouted "Free Palestine" and waved the Palestinian flag to protest the Israeli attacks on Gaza since October. The match was interrupted for a short while.

The 2024 Australian Open will end with the men's final on Sunday between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Russia's Daniil Medvedev. (Anadolu)

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