Aryna Sabalenka has continued her superb record at the Australian Open by reaching the third round of the tournament.
Sabalenka defeated Zhuoxuan Bai 6-3, 6-1 in the second round, following her opening 6-4, 6-1 win over Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
The WTA number one, who is the top seed at the Australian Open, will now meet Anastasia Potapova in the third round.
Sabalenka has been tipped for Australian Open success, a feat the Belarusian achieved in both 2023 and 2024.
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Indeed, she is now among a select group of women following her win over Bai, having been told in her latest press conference that she’s won 45 of her last 50 sets at the Australian Open.
In the Open Era, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Serena Williams are the only players to have bettered that.
“That sounds crazy and surreal, to be honest,” Sabalenka said of the feat. “Just never thought that people will kind of like compare me to these names, even though I’m really far away from their achievements.
“Of course it sounds incredible and sounds like really… it’s motivating me to keep doing my thing. It just means for me that I’m on the right way.”
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It really is a phenomenal achievement from Sabalenka, who seemingly goes into another mode entirely when playing in Australia.
Along with her titles in 2023 and 2024, she reached last year’s final, but was beaten by American Madison Keys.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2023 | Aryna Sabalenka | Elena Rybakina | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2024 | Aryna Sabalenka | Zheng Qinwen | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 2025 | Madison Keys | Aryna Sabalenka | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
And the success isn’t limited to Melbourne, with the WTA number one having just successfully defended her title in Brisbane.
Overcoming the likes of Keys and Karolina Muchova, she didn’t drop a set there either, which is a very worrying sign for her rivals on the WTA Tour.
Of course, her matches at the Australian Open should become more difficult as the tournament progresses.
But even with Sabalenka potentially playing Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina, she is looking very much like the player to beat in Melbourne.
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