MELBOURNE, Australia — Aryna Sabalenka has superior to the quarterfinals on the Australian Open, the place she’s three wins from reaching one thing no girl has executed because the Nineties.
The 2-time defending champion prolonged her profitable streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches with a 6-1, 6-2 win over 14th-seeded Mirra Andreeva to open play Sunday on Rod Laver Enviornment.
Martina Hingis, from 1997 to 1999, was the final girl to win three straight Australian Open singles titles.
Sabalenka hugged Andreeva after the match, waved to the gang, took a photograph along with her Polaroid digicam — a brand new development for right here — and gave a thumbs as much as mark the event.
“I got here up with the thought with my boyfriend, that all year long, we’ll gather Polaroid photos,” she stated. “And we’ll body it, and I hope we’ll have plenty of cool moments this 12 months to gather.”
A winner of 24 consecutive units in Melbourne, she stated “I am tremendous completely satisfied to get by means of this troublesome match in straight units.” It was over in simply over an hour.
Aside from the fifth recreation of the second set, when Sabalenka has triple breakpoint however Andreeva rallied by profitable 5 straight factors to carry, nearly every thing went the best way of the No. 1-ranked participant.
Sabalenka did not face a break level till halfway by means of the second set, when she saved three in a single recreation. It appeared like she was testing her serve underneath strain.
No. 3 Coco Gauff, who has gained all 16 units she’s performed this 12 months, was taking part in Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic within the second match on Rod Laver on Day 8.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
