Aryna Sabalenka confirmed why she needs to be taken significantly as an Australian Open contender Thursday by powering into the third spherical previous a tough opponent in straight units.
The Belarusian swept previous 51st-ranked American Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-1 in an hour and 27 minutes on Rod Laver Enviornment.
The pair had clashed twice beforehand, each final yr, with Sabalenka edging every — the latest a three-set, 2hr 35min epic on onerous courts in Cincinnati.
“She’s such an ideal participant, at all times powerful matches towards her,” stated fifth seed Sabalenka.
“I anticipated an ideal degree from her. That’s why I stated to myself to remain targeted from the start to the top and doubtless that’s why I used to be in a position to win this one in two units.”
There was little between the pair once more in a 54-minute opening set on Thursday with solely a pivotal eighth sport separating them.
It went to 5 deuces on Shelby’s serve earlier than a rasping crosscourt forehand and a scream of “Come on!” from Sabalenka introduced up a 3rd break level.
She transformed for a 5-3 lead and served out the set to like.
Sabalenka stored up the strain on Shelby’s serve firstly of the second set, breaking for a 2-1 lead.
The Belarusian was now on a assured roll, peppering Shelby with winners off each wings as she broke twice extra earlier than ripping residence a backhand crosscourt move on her first match level.
Sabalenka, who reached the semi-finals on the US Open final yr, prolonged her 2023 unbeaten file to 6 matches after successful the latest Adelaide Worldwide with out dropping a set.
She is aiming to get previous the final 16 within the Australian Open for the primary time and can subsequent play one other American Lauren Davis or the twenty sixth seed from Belgium Elise Mertens.
“I’ve performed loads of matches towards Mertens, and I at all times had battles towards Davis,” stated Sabalenka. “It’s going to be powerful however I’m wanting ahead to it.”
Katie Volynets Wins
American qualifier Katie Volynets stated Thursday she had “chills” after sending world quantity 9 Veronika Kudermetova tumbling out of the Australian Open to win consecutive Tour-level matches for the primary time in her profession.
The Russian, who had a surprising 2022 during which she claimed virtually 40 match wins, was outgunned by the bubbly 21-year-old 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment to make the third spherical.
Kudermetova, contesting her first main as a top-10 participant, had reached the quarter-finals or higher at her previous 5 tournaments.
She got here into the Australian Open with a left hip niggle which noticed her pull out of her Adelaide Worldwide semi-final this month, however was merely not adequate towards Volynets.
“It provides me chills, as a result of the followers listed here are simply unbelievable,” stated Volynets, ranked 113 and dealing with a top-10 participant for the primary time.
“I’ve by no means performed in a stadium this filled with so many individuals maintaining my vitality. That’s superior.”
Kudermetova was damaged 5 instances and made 47 unforced errors to Volynets’ 28, with the American crediting new coach Henner Nehles for making an enormous distinction to her sport.
“All credit score goes to my crew. I’ve by no means felt this excited to work with a coach earlier than. Now we have the large image in thoughts and it excites me a lot,” she stated.
“Actually cool to see only a few months of labor with Henner is actually benefiting my sport and my identification as an individual.”
She’s going to try to maintain her run going subsequent towards both China’s Zhang Shuai or Croat Petra Martic.
(With inputs from Companies)
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