By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 26, 2024
And then there were two! Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen will battle for the title in Melbourne in Saturday. Go inside the matchup here.
Photo Source: Getty
And then there were four!
It’s women’s final time at the Australian Open and Day 14 will see Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen battle for the crown in Melbourne.
Let’s have a look at the matchups…
SEE THE FULL DAY 14 ORDER OF PLAY HERE
Aryna Sabalenka vs Zheng Qinwen
Head-to-Head: Sabalenka Leads 1-0
Sabalenka Key Stat: Has Won 13 consecutive matches at Australian Open
Zheng Key Stat: Zheng is bidding to become the second Chinese Grand Slam singles champion on the ten-year anniversary of Li Na’s lone Australian Open title.
Sabalenka Streaking
Bidding to become the first woman to successfully defend the Australian Open title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013, Aryna Sabalenka has reeled off 13 consecutive wins in Melbourne, and won 26 of 27 sets in that span.
On Thursday Sabalenka marched past Coco Gauff in a rematch of the 2023 US Open final, displaying impressive confidence to go with her mind-blowing power. It wasn’t the cleanest match, but Sabalenka was unbothered by the moment and passed her toughest test yet with flying colors.
This run to the final is a continuation of a stellar period for Sabalenka. She has won 29 of 32 matches at the majors since the start of 2023 and has reached at least the semis in her last six major appearances.
Sabalenka, simply put, has become the toughest out in women’s tennis.
Zheng Walking in Li Na’s Footsteps
On the other side of the court will be 21-year-old Chinese Zheng Qinwen, a rising force that is just cutting her teeth at the Grand Slam level. Zheng has been a picture of poise in her ninth Grand Slam appearance, and even though she has yet to face a Top-50 opponent, she has had to deal with the stress of being the heavy favorite in her last few rounds, under the glare of the white-hot Grand Slam spotlight.
She has been a revelation, brushing back the pressure to make her Grand Slam final debut and becoming the second Chinese player to ever reach a major final.
Only two-time Grand Slam champion (and four-time Grand Slam champion) Li Na has done that before.
Making the event even more special, Zheng and Li got acquainted face-to-face for the first time during week one. Li’s advice – she told Zheng to keep it simple – has helped Zheng keep her focus in tight moments.
Experience Counts
All that said, the final could be an overwhelming experience for Zheng, who had never been beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal prior to this tournament. Last year, at the US Open, she reached the last eight and met Sabalenka for the first time when she got there. The result was a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 victory for Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, has undergone a tremendous growth spurt at the majors since 2022. She has won 39 of 45 matches at the majors in that span and will play her third major final on Saturday. In this three-year period we have seen Sabalenka learn to manage her nerves in the biggest moments better and better. Nobody’s perfect in this category, but Sabalenka will have a big advantage in the experience category, and it will likely help her on Saturday.
What Sabalenka is Saying
Sabalenka, on defending the title: “Of course that's tough, but worst case you're gonna lose it next year, nothing to defend. So I'm kind of, not like I'm ignoring the pressure. I'm just shifting my focus and it's working well so far – It's one more to go, and I'll do my best.”
On facing Zheng for the title: “We played once but we practiced a lot. We actually practiced here before the tournament, and she's playing really great tennis. She's a really nice girl and playing really great tennis once again – It's going to be a great battle if I'm gonna face her.” On Zheng’s biggest weapon: “I think her forehand is really heavy, and she's moving well also. Fighting for every point.
I think her forehand is really her best shot. I would say it's quite heavy. She played really great tennis, putting her opponents under pressure, playing really aggressive tennis, and I think that's why she's [going to be] in top 10.”
What Zheng is Saying
On the pressure of playing the final: “To arrive in the final, everybody needs to face the pressure in the final. Who can deal better and who can perform their tennis, who is the one who's gonna win the match? Yeah, I mean, that's one of my challenges. I need to deal with it. I will try to work on it. There is nothing more I can say. I will say enjoy the final and let's fight.”
On the importance of Li Na: “She means a lot I think for all the Chinese kids in the same age like me. Because she's the first one who won the Slams. I mean, that's unbelievable for Asian woman in that moment. Then she gives a lot of hope, like, in that moment, to young kids of [my generation]. Yes, I think she means a lot for everyone.”
On facing a top player in the final: “I'm sure the final will be really competitive, because I think Sabalenka, she's one of the, I would say, most big hitters right now in the tour. She got the biggest serve, biggest forehand, big backhand. She's a really complete player. Like you say, I haven't faced a big seed all the past rounds and she will be the first one I will face. But, you know, it is a match, so let's see what's gonna happen in the final there.”
By the Numbers
21 – Zheng (21 years, 112 days) is the second-youngest player to make her Grand Slam final debut at the Australian Open, to Sofia Kenin (21 years, 80 days). 9 – Zheng reached her maiden Grand Slam final in her ninth major appearance. It took Li Na until her 19th major appearance to reach a Grand Slam final.
3 – Sabalenka has reached the final of her last three hard court majors.
12 – Since the start of the 2021 Season, Zheng is the 12th WTA player to reach a maiden Grand Slam final.
2 – Sabalenka is bidding to become the second woman in the Open Era to win her first two major titles at the Australian Open. 2012 and 2013 champion Victoria Azarenka is the first.
12 – Sabalenka has won all 12 sets she has played at this year’s Australian Open, marking the second consecutive year she has reached the final without dropping a set.
11:34 – With nearly 12 hours spent on court through six rounds, Zheng has spent nearly five more hours on court than Sabalenka, who needed just six hours and 55 minutes to get through to the final.
48 – Zheng leads all WTA players with 48 aces at this year’s Australian Open; Sabalenka has 24. 55 – Percentage of second-serve points that Sabalenka has won thus far in Australia this year.
67 – Zheng has won 67 percent of her second-serve return points through six rounds; Sabalenka has won 60 percent.