Striking Similarities Between Sabalenka And Last Woman To Defend Australian Open

| by Nurein Ahmed

No woman has defended the Australian Open singles title in a decade, but the last time it happened, it was done by a Belarusian player.

Could this be a sign that the stars are aligning for the World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to win her second Grand Slam? For starters, the 25-year-old powerhouse is one of the Top 5 favorites to win the Australian Open.

In fact, the bookmakers rate Sabalenka as the second favorite to retain her title, behind World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. But here is the fun part. The Australian Open has been the one Slam that no WTA player has had quite a stranglehold for the last ten years.

One of the reasons is because, at the start of the season, the possibility of top players being caught cold is very high, so we see many upsets. That's why we have seen an increasing number of established stars take to the courts in December to refine their games in exhibition tournaments.

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Now, the last woman to win back-to-back Australian Opens was Victoria Azarenka - a former World No. 1. The interesting thing is that Azarenka won her first major title in 2012 and lost her second in the US Open that same year to an American player.

There are no prizes for guessing the victor. Of course, it was Serena Williams - Coco Gauff's idol who defeated Azarenka in three sets. But Azarenka's response happened the following season when she won the Australian Open a second time (and remains the last woman to defend the Melbourne Slam).

She took down an inspired Sloane Stephens in controversial circumstances in the semis - an opponent who made her path to the title easier by knocking out Serena in the quarterfinals. Azarenka, who was 23 at the time, then toppled China's Li Na in the final.

Remarkably, Sabalenka's route ahead of her title defense mirrors Azarenka's. She won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2023 and became World No. 1 during the season.

Sabalenka lost her second Grand Slam final at the US Open (like Azarenka did to Williams)) to an American player (Coco Gauff) in three sets! Could this be an omen that we might be staring at a possible first title defense in Melbourne since 2013?

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