Aryna Sabalenka: Two-time defending champion beats Clara Tauson in straight sets at Australian Open | Tennis news
Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her winning streak at the Australian Open by defeating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in straight sets.
Sabalenka outlasted Towson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in two hours and six minutes at Rod Laver Arena to claim her 17th straight win in Melbourne, securing a place in the fourth round.
The 26-year-old emerged with more winners and fewer unforced errors than Tauson in a match that featured 11 breaks of serve, including in each of the first seven games.
The Belarusian failed to take advantage of four set points at 5-6 in the first set, but eventually won the tie-break.
Tauson, who has never reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam and is ranked No. 42 in the world, lost her serve early in the second set and then broke back to level at 4-4 before Sabalenka took the final two games.
– She put pressure on me – Sabalenka said. “She played really good tennis under pressure, too. It was a great level from her.
“If she continues to work, improve, play the way she played today, of course she will be there [at the highest level].”
Sabalenka will face teenage 14th seed Mirra Andreeva, who beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-2 1-6 6-2, in the next round.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and The Sky Sports appgiving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
