By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 17, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka stretched her Australian Open winning streak to nine matches with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Brenda Fruhvirtova on Day 4.
Photo Source: Getty
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka did her part to stop the teen revolt in Melbourne, putting 16-year-old Czech qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova to bed early with a 6-3, 6-2 clampdown that lasted only 67 minutes.
On a day that saw 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva upset No.6-seeded Ons Jabeur, Sabalenka made sure she didn't fall prey to the upset bug.
But she did come away impressed by the Aussie Open debutante.
"She's incredible player for someone 16 years old. I mean, I think first six games was really great level, then I kind of step in and start playing little bit better,” Sabalenka told reporters after the match.
The Belarusian, who has won 18 of her last 19 sets in Melbourne, will face either No.28-seeded Lesia Tsurenko or Rebeka Masarova in round three.
Sabalenka continues to display impressive consistency at the majors. She has been to at least the semifinals in her last five Grand Slam appearances, and compiled a 31-4 record in that span.
The World No.2 wasn’t really bothered by the rising Czech on Wednesday, and from 3-3 in the opening set turned on the jets to win nine of the final 11 games to reach the third round in Melbourne for the fourth consecutive year.
A year after winning her maiden major title in Melbourne, Sabalenka looks poised to make a run at becoming the first woman to successfully defend the title in Melbourne since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
She slashed 30 winners against just seven for the Czech, and converted four of six break points.
Fruhvirtova, fresh off her maiden Grand Slam win in the opening round (d. Ana Bogdan) was one of three 16-year-olds in action on Day 4. In addition to Andreeva’s eye-catching upset of Jabeur, Alina Korneeva was defeated By Brazil’s Beatriz Haddae Maia 6-1, 6-2.