Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka crushes Qinwen Zheng to win women’s final

Aryna Sabalenka claimed back-to-back Australian Open titles with a straight-sets victory over Qinwen Zheng in Melbourne. The World No 2 sealed a dominant tournament defence with a 6-3 6-2 victory against the 12th seed Zheng, who was playing in a grand slam final for the first time.

The 25-year-old Belarusian was outstanding as she swept her way through the Australian Open draw and did not drop a single set as she became the first woman since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to defend her title. It was Sabalenka’s second grand slam title overall as she bounced back from losing the US Open final to Coco Gauff in September.

Her victory over Zheng in the final was just as comprehensive as her progress through the tournament, building on an opening break in the first behind her powerful first serve and forehand while allowing Zheng no time to settle into the match.

Sabalenka broke again at the start of the second set and passed a series of potentially tricky service games on her way to claiming the double break. A crushing victory firmly establishes Sabalenka as the most powerful force in the women’s game after a second grand slam title in 12 months.

Follow live scores, updates and results from the Australian Open women’s final below:

Australian Open LIVE: Latest updates and scores

Aryna Sabalenka thrashes Qinwen Zheng 6-3 6-2 to win Australian Open women’s final

Sabalenka wins back-to-back Melbourne titles without dropping a set all tournament

SECOND SET! Sabalenka serves out impressive 6-3 6-2 victory over Zheng

FIRST SET! Sabalenka builds on opening break to take first set 6-3 against Zheng

Alfie Hewett falls short of second straight Australian Open title

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka only had the slightest of wobbles as she served it out, with Zheng saving her first four Championship points as Sabalenka pushed too hard for a finishing winner. Dragged to deuce, Sabalenka had to save break point but she remained solid on her first-serve and victory was never in doubt: a far cry from the unpredictable rollercoaster of 12 months ago.

Since winning her first Australian Open, Sabalenka has shown remarkable consistency at the grand slams as has reached six semi-finals in a row. Now she is able to continue her dominant forms into the biggest matches at the latter stages of the most important tournaments, there can be no limit on what Sabalenka can achieve over the rest of the year.

Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant Australian Open win completes a stunning transformation

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:35 , Jamie Braidwood

The moment!

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:22 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka collects the trophy Evonne Goolagong Cawley

“First of all thank you Evonne for being such an inspiration to all of us and receiving this trophy from you is a privilege for me. I want to congratulate Qinwen on an incredible couple of weks in Australia and reaching the final – I know the feeling of losing a final but you’re such a young girl and you’re going to get it.

“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks – I couldn’t have imagined myself lifting the trophy. It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m speechless, so once again my speech is going to be weird!”

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE:

11:01 , Jamie Braidwood

Thanks for joining us this morning! We’ll be back tomorrow, where there will be a new Australian Open champion when Daniil Medvedev faces Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final

Sinner will play in a grand slam final for the first time after the 22-year-old Italian stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic in four sets for the biggest win of his career.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, will play in his third Australian Open final after previous defeats to Djokovic in 2021 and Rafael Nadal in 2022.

The third seed came from two sets down for the second time this tournament in beating Alexander Zverev in a four-hour epic in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Should be a cracker.

Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev start time: When is the Australian Open men’s final?

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:18 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s Qinwen Zheng, who will enter the top-10 next week after reaching her first grand slam title.

“First of all I want to say congrats to Aryna for such a wonderful match here. It’s my first final and I’m feeling a little bit giddy – but it’s a new experience for me. I want to say thanks to the fans for coming to support me.

“I feel very complicated right now: I could have done better in the match. I really enjoyed this Australian Open and I’m sure there’s going to be more and better in the future.”

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:11 , Jamie Braidwood

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sabalenka 6-3 6-2 Zheng

How does anyone stop Aryna Sabalenka when she’s on this form?

She will get her hands back on the Australian Open title as the trophy ceremony begins.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley will present the trophy 50 years after her first Australian Open win.

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:06 , Jamie Braidwood

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sabalenka 6-3 6-2 Zheng

The most impressive aspect of that win from Sabalenka was how she remained in total control. She never allowed Zheng a moment to settle into her first grand slam final. Zheng only had a couple of moments but Sabalenka saved every single break point or pressure point on her terms and behind her powerful game.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open!

10:02 , Jamie Braidwood

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sabalenka 6-3 6-2 Zheng

Back-to-back titles for Aryna Sabalenka!

She finishes off Zheng with a forehand winner! A crushing win to seal a dominant title defence.

14 sets in a row in Melbourne!

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:57 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 6-3 5-2 Zheng

Three unreturnable serves from Sabalenka and it’s three Championship points…

But Sabalenka is denied! Zheng saves all three – with a forehand error from Sabalenka as she looked for the finishing winner, followed by a drop shot from Zheng.

Back to deuce… ACE from Sabalenka!

But Zheng digs in on the baseline, as Sabalenka nets! Zheng is making this nervy.

And now Zheng gets break point! ACE again from Sabalenka.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:55 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 6-3 5-2 Zheng

Zheng holds and Sabalenka will have the first of two chances to serve out the title.

I remember a year ago, Sabalaneka was a bag nerves when serving out her first Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina.

But Sabalenka has been so cool and calm here. It’s been a dominant performance.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:51 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 6-3 5-1 Zheng*

A couple of errors from Sabalenka sees Zheng get to -30 for the third return game in a row.

But again, no break point: Zheng’s return is poor and drifts long against the Sabalenka second serve.

From there, Sabalenka whacks an ace and then a forehand winner. She has responded to every slight challenge with ease.

A game away.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:46 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 6-3 4-1 Zheng – Sabalenka breaks!

That’s so frustrating for Zheng: a double fault gives Sabalenka a look at break point.

But from there, Sabalenka’s level is stunning. She moves Zheng around the court before finishing the point with a lovely drop shot at the net! Sublime.

There’s the double break.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:41 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 6-3 3-1 Zheng*

Zheng’s return jams up Sabalenka at the back of the court, getting a look at 15-30.

But Sabalenka responds so calmly again: finding her serve to dominate the next three points.

Zheng has not been able to find answers to this onslaught of Sabalenka power.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:36 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 6-3 2-1 Zheng

An impressive hold from Zheng to save break point and then keep her concentration as a fan is taken out the stadium by security after shouting something out before Zheng’s serve.

Can she break though? Otherwise this final is going to slip away.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 6-3 2-0 Zheng*

30-30 is a rare window for Zheng into the Sabalenka service game – she goes searching for the return, but long!

Zheng then nets as she again struggles to match Sabalenka’s forehand on the baseline. Sabalenka consolidates the break.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:26 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 6-3 1-0 Zheng – Sabalenka breaks!

What a return from Sabalenka! The defending champion powers a magnificent forehand return on the angle, a clean winner.

It’s great from Sabalenka, but the break is also handed to her after three double faults from Zheng – including on break point.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:20 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 6-3 Zheng* – Sabalenka wins the first set!

A ball sits up nicely for Zheng to step inside the baseline but her forehand drifts a touch wide and it brings up two set points for Sabalenka.

Zheng’s return is superb! A booming forehand catches Sabalenka off guard and Zheng then puts away the forehand winner.

But Sabalenka steadies and thumps a big ace out wide. She takes the opening set 6-3.

(Getty Images)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:15 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 5-3 Zheng

Sabalenka dominates the opening point on the forehand and Zheng goes long twice in a row to hand three set points to Sabalenka.

But that’s some response from Zheng! Two aces and a forehand winner to get back to deuce.

Sabalenka then nets on the backhand return: but Zheng makes a double fault on advantage.

Zheng finds a third ace of the game and then produces the first serve out wide to claim an impressive hold!

Sabalenka will serve for the set but there are signs of encouragement for Zheng.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 5-2 Zheng*

Another ruthless hold from Sabalenka: easing clear after Zheng got to 15-15. Apart from that second service game where Zheng got to 0-40, she hasn’t had a look. Sabalenka’s forehand is finding its marks.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:07 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 4-2 Zheng

Sabalenka senses an opportunity as she attacks the Zheng serve and gets to 15-15. But Zheng steadies and continues to land her first serve in play. She holds and that counts as a good test passed.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:03 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 4-1 Zheng*

Sabalenka replies with her own love hold. Zheng is showing signs of settling but breaking Sabalenka will be tough if the defending champion continues serving like this.

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

09:01 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 3-1 Zheng

Excellent serving from Zheng and the Chinese player gets on the board with behind a couple of aces!

Love hold behind four first-serves in a row.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:56 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 3-0 Zheng*

Zheng finds an excellent passing shot past Sabalenka after she was unable to put away the volley into the net before Sabalanka fires wide on the forehand down the line.

Another miss for Sabalenka! This time on the backhand. Three points for Zheng to break straight back.

Sabalenka saves all three! Zheng is first unable to respond to Sabalenka’s hitting and then Sabalenka powers a backhand winner to get to deuce.

Too good from Sabalenka. Four points in a row and she pushes Zheng right back behind the baseline with her forehand strike.

Zheng nets again and Sabalenka holds from 0-40 down with five points in a row.

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:51 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 2-0 Zheng – Sabalenka breaks!

Zheng misfires twice after deep forehand blows from Sabalenka, as the defending champion gets to 15-30.

Zheng then nets on the backhand and it’s an early break point opportunity for Sabalenka.

Sabalenka crushes the backhand on the Zheng second serve and the 12th seed fires wide under the pressure.

Early break.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:48 , Jamie Braidwood

Sabalenka 1-0 Zheng*

An ominous start from Sabalenka. The defending champion lands three powerful serves in a row, the third an ace, to get to 40-0. Zheng goes long in the first rally.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:46 , Jamie Braidwood

*Sabalenka 0-0 Zheng

Sabalenka will serve to get us started. Her serve has been so strong all tournament.

*denotes next server

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:41 , Jamie Braidwood

Here come the players! Qinwen Zheng leads Aryna Sabalenka out onto the Rod Laver Arena.

This should be a cracker: will it be a first grand slam title for Zheng or back-to-back for Sabalenka?

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Qinwen Zheng hoping to emulate Lia Na success by winning Australian Open

08:37 , Jamie Braidwood

By Eleanor Crooks, PA Tennis Correspondent, Melbourne

Ten years after watching Li Na win the Australian Open title, Zheng Qinwen has a first grand slam crown in her sights.

The 21-year-old is the first Chinese player since trailblazer Li here in 2014 to make a grand slam final, where she will take on defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Zheng vividly remembers cheering on Li during her victory over Dominika Cibulkova as an 11-year-old alongside her tennis team-mates.

Three years earlier, Li had become the first Chinese grand slam singles champion at the French Open, and Zheng said: “She means a lot, I think, for all the Chinese kids the same age like me.

“Because I think she’s the first one who won the slams. That’s unbelievable for Asian woman in that moment. She gives a lot of hope, in that moment, to young kids like me.”

Zheng had the chance to meet Li, who is playing in the legends event, earlier this fortnight, with the 41-year-old telling her young countrywoman not to think too much.

Zheng, who will break into the top 10 on Monday, kept her nerve to come through a chaotic top half of the draw, with Sabalenka the first top-50 opponent she will face, and she said: “My dream is not just the final. I’m almost there but I know this little distance is still far away.”

Alfie Hewett falls short of Australian Open title

08:36 , Jamie Braidwood

By Eleanor Crooks, PA Tennis Correspondent, Melbourne

Alfie Hewett fell just short of a second straight Australian Open title.

The British wheelchair tennis star was bidding for a ninth grand slam singles crown having won in Melbourne for the first time last year but Japanese teenager Tokito Oda turned the tables with a 6-2 6-4 victory.

Hewett beat the 17-year-old at the same stage 12 months ago but Oda then got the better of him at the French Open and Wimbledon and had the edge on Kia Arena.

Hewett threatened a comeback, recovering from 5-2 to 5-4 in the second set, but he could not get back on level terms.

The 26-year-old said: “Congratulations Tokito and to your team. Some high-quality tennis there and you produced some of the best stuff I’ve seen you play.

“Fully deserved today and credit to everything you’ve done. I wasn’t at my best today. I look forward to being back next year and hopefully I can beat you.”

Hewett does go home with some silverware having collected his 19th slam doubles title with Gordon Reid on Friday.

(REUTERS)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:21 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka on handling the emotions of the Australian Open against a first-time grand slam finalist:

“Emotionally I’ll be very ready to fight. Not going crazy. Because when you play first final you kind of like get emotional and rushing things sometimes. When you’re like third time in the finals, you’re, like, okay, it’s a final, it’s okay. It’s just another match, and you’re able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game. That’s it.”

Aryna Sabalenkablows a kiss after beating Coco Gauff (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) (AP)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

08:01 , Jamie Braidwood

Qinwen Zheng’s route to the Australian Open final:

1st round: vs Ashlyn Krueger – won 3-6 6-2 6-3

2nd round: vs Katie Boulter – won 6-3 6-3

3rd round: vs Yafan Wang – won 6-4 2-6 7-6

4th round: vs Oceane Dodin – won 6-0 6-3

Quarter-finals: vs Anna Kalinskaya – won 6-7 6-3 6-1

Semi-finals: vs Dayana Yastremska – won 6-4 6-4

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

07:44 , Jamie Braidwood

There was a sense of history repeating itself as Coco Gauff halted Aryna Sabalenka’s relentless attacking play and broke level in their Australian Open semi-final. After surviving the early onslaught from Sabalenka’s forehand wing, Gauff turned the reigning champion against herself: stretching her defences wide to crack a glimpse at Sabalenka’s vulnerabilities. But as Gauff served for the first set, Sabalenka’s response highlighted the immense improvements she has made in the mental aspects of her game in the past 12 months: she overcame Gauff as well as her demons in striking back to win 7-6 6-4 and return to the Australian Open final.

In the end, it was Sabalenka’s unrelenting power that triumphed over Gauff’s resilience in a heavyweight semi-final clash between two grand slam champions that lived up to its billing. But there were moments at the end of the first set that suggested the Gauff’s gameplan that proved so effective in coming from a set down to beat Sabalenka in September’s US Open final was going to work again. Sabalenka’s errors were beginning to mount as Gauff’s defensive wall stood strong on the baseline but the Belarusian regained her composure, steadied her game and attacked Gauff with the same clear and clinical intent that has fuelled her return to the Melbourne final.

Aryna Sabalenka overcomes Coco Gauff and her demons to reach Australian Open final

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

07:31 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka’s route to the Australian Open final:

1st round: vs Ella Seidel (Q) – won 6-0 6-1

2nd round: vs Brenda Fruhvirtova (Q) – won 6-3 6-2

3rd round: vs Lesia Tsurenko (29) – won 6-0 6-0

4th round: vs Amanda Anisimova – won 6-3 6-2

Quarter-finals: vs Barbora Krejcikova (9) – won 6-2 6-3

Semi-finals: vs Coco Gauff (4) – won – 7-6 6-4

(AP)

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

07:14 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka on Qinwen Zheng: “Well, I think her forehand is really heavy. Yeah, and she’s moving well also. Fighting for every point.

“Yeah, I think her forehand is really, I don’t know, yeah, her best shot. I would say forehand, it’s quite heavy. Yeah, she played really great tennis, putting her opponents under pressure, playing really aggressive tennis, and I think that’s why she’s — she will be top 10, right? That’s why she’s in top 10.”

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

07:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng head-to-head

Sabalenka and Zheng have only played once before but it was at a grand slam. Sabalenka defeated Zheng 6-1 6-4 in the US Open quarter-finals last season, which before the Australian Open was the furthest Zheng had got in a grand slam.

Australian Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng

07:02 , Jamie Braidwood

When is the Australian Open women’s final?

Aryna Sabalenka will face Qinwen Zheng in the Australian Open final on Saturday 27 January. The final will be start at 8:30am GMT (UK time).

How can I watch it?

You can watch the Australian Open live on Discovery+ and Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Good morning

07:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on Qinwen Zheng in the Australian Open women’s singles final as the Belarusian targets back-to-back titles in Melbourne. A year on from beating Elena Rybakina and claiming her first grand slam, Sabalenka stands on the brink of a second major crown and is the huge favourite against the first-time finalist Zheng, the 12th seed.

Sabalenka continued her impressive Australian Open defence as she passed her toughest test of the tournament so far against Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, gaining revenge for September’s US Open final defeat. The World No 2 is yet to drop a set this tournament and has been in dominant form behind her powerful serve and forehand in racing through the draw.

Zheng defeated Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-4 in the semi-finals and the Chinese player is looking to replicate childhood idol and former Australian Open champion Li Na with victory in Melbourne – 10 years on from Na’s breakthrough triumph as the first Chinese player to win a major.

Follow live scores, updates and results from the Australian Open women’s final in today’s live blog: