With her spot in the quarterfinals confirmed, the Belarusian is now in a strong position to pursue further Grand Slam success, while Andreeva’s run at the Australian Open came to an end.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka delivered an utterly dominant
performance at the Australian Open, effortlessly dispatching 17-year-old Mirra
Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 to secure her place in the quarterfinals. In a match that was
expected to be a highly competitive contest, Sabalenka quickly extinguished
any hopes of an upset with her aggressive, near-perfect display of tennis.
Sabalenka, who had previously faced Andreeva earlier in the season, was on a
mission to avenge her loss to the young Russian in the quarterfinals of the
2024 French Open. While the Belarusian had dominated their recent
encounter, Andreeva had moments of promise, though she ultimately fell 2-6,
3-6 to the eventual champion. However, in Melbourne, there was no sign of a
similar battle as Sabalenka’s powerful game quickly overwhelmed Andreeva,
putting her on the fast track to victory.
Sabalenka’s Australian Open record is legendary, having won 17 consecutive
matches at the tournament, only dropping one set during that stretch. Her
reputation as a formidable force on the Melbourne courts was further
reinforced as she dismantled Andreeva with ease, despite the youngster’s
impressive athleticism and her improvements to her game since partnering
with former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
The match began with both players holding serve with relative ease, but it
didn’t take long for Sabalenka to assert her dominance. Andreeva’s serve,
which had been a point of strength for her since working with Martinez, was
quickly neutralized by Sabalenka’s overwhelming power. While the court
conditions in Melbourne tend to speed up play, the slower surfaces this year
provided ample opportunity for Sabalenka to target Andreeva’s second serve,
and she did so with precision.
At 1-1 in the opening set, Sabalenka surged forward, rattling off five
consecutive games to win the set in just 24 minutes. Andreeva, who struggled
to cope with the intensity of her opponent’s game, did her best to remain
composed. Yet, it was evident that the world number one’s power and shot
placement were simply too much for the young Russian to handle.
In the second set, Andreeva started with more determination, finding some
success with her serve as she began to hit four consecutive unreturned serves.
This brief surge of confidence, however, was not enough to put her on an even
footing with Sabalenka. The defending champion broke Andreeva’s serve early
to go 2-1 up and kept up the pressure with more big serving when it mattered
most.
Despite Andreeva’s best efforts, which included a remarkable recovery from 0-
40 down to hold serve and a stunning backhand winner, she was unable to
capitalize on key moments. In one crucial game, Andreeva created three break
points on Sabalenka’s serve, but failed to convert any of them. This missed
opportunity was a turning point, with Andreeva unable to recover emotionally
from the disappointment.
Sabalenka, composed and relentless, capitalized on Andreeva’s errors in the
subsequent games. The world number one tightened her grip on the match,
with Andreeva making unforced errors at inopportune times. The young
Russian, who had shown some resilience during the match, struggled to keep
up with Sabalenka’s pace, eventually succumbing to a 6-1, 6-2 defeat.
With this win, Sabalenka continued her impressive streak at the Australian
Open, solidifying her status as one of the tournament’s most dominant players
in recent years. Andreeva, though defeated, showed glimpses of her potential
but will undoubtedly rue the missed opportunities against such a formidable
opponent. Sabalenka, on the other hand, now looks ahead with confidence as
she sets her sights on a potential third consecutive Australian Open title.
The match marked yet another demonstration of Sabalenka’s superior power,
mental fortitude, and adaptability. With her quarterfinal berth secured, the
Belarusian is now well-positioned to continue her quest for more Grand Slam
glory, while Andreeva’s journey in Melbourne came to a halt.
