Aryna Sabalenka Fights Through Two Quality Sets To Progress At Australian Open
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Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka had to battle past an impressive Clara Tauson to continue her winning streak at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka's domination at the season's opening Grand Slam has been incredible. She had won her last 16 matches at the tournament before the contest against Tauson, and the only set she dropped during that run was in the 2023 final against Elena Rybakina.
The Belarusian started positively in her opening two matches of this year's event. Sabalenka comfortably defeated the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who has not won a match since last year's Wimbledon.
Young Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro pushed Sabalenka harder in the previous round. She led 5-2 in the second set before the world No. 1 raised her game further and reeled off five consecutive games to triumph 6-3, 7-5.
Tauson made an excellent start to 2025 by winning her maiden WTA title at the ASB Classic after Naomi Osaka abruptly retired in the final with an injury. That should not take away from the Dane's victories to reach the final.
Sabalenka was probably expecting a challenging match, but she may not have anticipated the opening set being one of the most epic seen at this year's Australian Open. It was filled with twists and turns.
Both women possess powerful serves. That made most of the first set surprising. There were an incredible seven breaks of serve to start the match, with each player thriving against the pace of their opponent's serve.
Tauson also did a very good job of stepping in and ripping Sabalenka's second serve. She took a 5-3 lead after securing the first hold of the match, but the pre-match favorite fought back to lead 6-5.
An incredible 12th game saw Tauson save four set points, including an outrageous and unexpected drop shot. The 22-year-old hit some blistering winners from 1-4 in the tiebreak to leave herself two points from going a set up.
However, Sabalenka won the following three points to survive the set, including an outstanding first-serve return winner at 5-5. Losing the set was a body blow for Tauson, who had done so much right during it.
To Tauson's credit, she shook off that disappointment and held from 15-40 in the opening game of the set. But Sabalenka followed that by playing her best service game of the match to go up a break at 2-1.
Sabalenka narrowly held in the sixth game. Tauson carved out two break points with some relentless baseline hitting. Unfortunately for her, she was left powerless after the world No. 1 hit two big serves to avert the danger.
Many would have expected that to knock the wind out of Tauson's sails, but the Dane refused to throw in the towel. She broke Sabalenka's serve from game point down to level the set at 4-4.
A lengthy ninth game proved crucial. Tauson had six game points that Sabalenka saved. The two-time winner then took her second break point chance of the game to go 5-4 up.
Sabalenka endured one final scare when serving for the match. Tauson could not convert two break points, missing a forehand by a matter of inches on the first of them. The defending champion then completed a 7-6, 6-4 win.
This match might help Sabalenka in the later rounds. She was pushed enough by Tauson to keep herself in a rhythm. At the same time, the match was not long or physical enough to tire her out or risk any injuries.
