Top seed Aryna Sabalenka secured a potential third-round clash with Britainโs Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open, following a convincing straight-sets victory on Wednesday over Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan.
World number one Sabalenka dominated the match, defeating the awkward Bai 6-3, 6-1. She threatened at one stage to finish the match even faster, showcasing her superior power and precision on Rod Laver Arena. Despite Bai, ranked 702 in the world, showing resilience, Sabalenka maintained control throughout the 72-minute contest.
Britainโs 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu is set to play Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova later on Wednesday at Melbourne Park. Should Raducanu win, she would face Sabalenka, setting up a high-profile third-round showdown that has fans eagerly anticipating the match.
Sabalenka is the favorite to claim a third Australian Open title in four years, having fallen in last yearโs final to Madison Keys. โTricky opponent,โ said the Belarusian, reflecting her focus and preparation. โSuper-happy to close the [first] set, it gives me confidence that my game is there, my focus is there. Step by step. Super-happy with my win. There is always a little gap to improve.โ
Sabalenka began strongly, winning the first nine points to surge into a 2-0 lead. After just eight minutes, she was 3-0 up, and quickly reached 5-0. Bai, however, held her nerves and broke Sabalenkaโs serve to make it 5-2, eventually holding her serve for 5-3.
Sabalenka, showing brief signs of frustration, converted her seventh set point after 39 minutes, finishing the first set in style. The second set saw Sabalenkaโs superior power dominate, as she sealed the match in 72 minutes.
