Melbourne, January 27 (Lotus365 News) - Aryna Sabalenka expressed gratitude to her coaching team after securing her second Australian Open title in a dominant display, becoming the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to retain the prestigious championship. Sabalenka's convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory against China's Zheng Qinwen on Rod Laver Arena showcased her newfound composure and control on the court.
The Belarusian's triumph without dropping a set sends a clear message to her competitors, signaling the transformation from past on-court struggles that once threatened to overshadow her undeniable talent.
In a unique pre-match ritual, Sabalenka humorously acknowledged her mental shift by signing the bald head of her performance coach with a marker pen. Reflecting on her improved mindset, she stated, "I'm more calm on court now and more in control. And no matter what happened, I know that I'm gonna try my best on each point."
Playfully putting the blame on her team for a defeat in the Brisbane International warm-up final three weeks ago, Sabalenka lauded their support after securing the Australian Open title. In her unconventional victory speech, she acknowledged the pivotal role her team played in her success, stating, "Without you, I wouldn't be able to achieve so much in this sport. I mean, without me, you wouldn't be that good as well. Let's accept that."
Expressing appreciation for her family and acknowledging the formidable opponent in Zheng, Sabalenka offered words of encouragement to the 21-year-old Chinese player, anticipating a bright future filled with more achievements.
Zheng, though downcast after the loss, expressed gratitude for the memorable experience and conveyed optimism for the future. "I feel very complicated because I could have done better than I did in this match. This was an amazing memory for me. I'm sure there's going to be more and better in the future," she said.
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