Aryna Sabalenka produced a dominant performance against Qinwen Zheng to successfully defend her Australian Open title.
Sabalenka, who did not drop a single set throughout the fortnight, clinched a 6-3, 6-2 victory after just one hour and 17 minutes to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2007 to win the title without dropping serve.
‘’I'm speechless right now," Sabalenka said in press afterward.
"I don't know how to describe my emotions. But definitely I'm super, super happy and proud of everything I was able to achieve so far.
"Yeah, just happy with the level I played today. She's a great player and very tough opponent.
‘’I'm super happy that I was able to get this win today.’’
With the win, the world No. 2 became the first player to defender her first Grand Slam title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
She revealed afterwards that winning more than one major had been one of her main ambitions.
‘’Actually it's been in my mind that I didn't want to be that player to win [one Slam] and then disappeared," Sabalenka said.
"I just wanted to show that I'm able to be consistently there and I'm able to win another one.
‘’I really hope that more, more than two right now, but for me was really important.’’
Winning her second major has given Sabalenka insight into the reactions of players who win multiple big titles.
‘’You know what? I actually felt after last year it's going to help me to be more free and don't care about things," she said.
"But not really. You still feel the same. You still want it badly and you still working very hard for it, and you still have to show up and fight for it and show your best level.
"Before I was watching all these champions crying after each slam. I was, like, 'Come on, you've done it, like, 15 times. Why are you still crying?'
‘’Right now, I didn't even get to that point, but I feel like I understand why they still crying.
‘’Because every time, the same pressure, the same expectations. You want it same way.
‘’So, it's always emotional. It's still the same, you know.’’
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