For the first time since 2012-13, the Australian Open has a repeat women's singles champion.
ARYNA SABALENKA IS THE BACK-TO-BACK CHAMP IN MELBOURNE @SabalenkaA | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/6BbJNGLTyR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 27, 2024
Rod Laver Aryna pic.twitter.com/FJEf3EtEN6
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
Women's Tennis Association No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Qinwen Zheng in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch her second grand slam trophy.
Last January, she defeated Elena Rybakina in a three-set final, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, as part of her current string of six consecutive semifinal appearances at the four grand slam events.
This title run was her most dominant, with the 25-year-old not dropping a single set in her seven matches at the tournament. Sabalenka joined an illustrious group of women with that accomplishment since 2000, including Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.
Aryna Sabalenka becomes the 5th woman to win the Australian Open without dropping a set since 2000.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 27, 2024
Lindsay Davenport
Maria Sharapova
Serena Williams
Ash Barty
An iconic group of women. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wjmEdexWTX
Victoria Azarenka was the last women's tennis player to win back-to-back Aussie Open titles. Since 2000, Jennifer Capriati (2001-02) and Williams (2009-10) are the only other women to do so.
Australian tennis legend Rod Laver congratulated Sabalenka on social media, saying there's "no holding you back."
Once you’ve tasted major success it’s hard to stop. Congratulations on a second AO title Aryna Sabalenka, no holding you back. Rocket
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 27, 2024
Afterward, Sabalenka discussed her desire to win a second grand slam. "I didn't want to be that player who win... and then disappeared," she told reporters.
"I didn't want to be that player who win [a Grand Slam] and then disappeared. I just wanted to show that I'm able to be consistently there and I'm able to win another one. I really hope that more, more than two right now."
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 27, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka pic.twitter.com/MS67GNmWeq
She was also candid about the pressure of winning a second title being just as great as the first and said she finally understood why multi-time grand slam champions still get emotional after a win.
"I was watching all these champions crying after each slam ... like, 'Come on, you've done it like, 15 times. Why are you still crying?' Right now... I feel like I understand why they're still crying," she said.
Aryna Sabalenka says she now understands why players who’ve won 15 Grand Slams still cry after winning:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 27, 2024
“You know what? I actually felt after last year it's going to help me to be more free and don't care about things, and blah, blah, blah. But not really. You still feel the… pic.twitter.com/5zroRL6Q78
Based on how she has played the past few years, Sabalenka should probably start packing tissues.
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