Aryna Sabalenka powers past Mirra Andreeva to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. The Belarusian star remains on track for a third consecutive title, extending her winning streak at Melbourne Park to an impressive 18 matches.

Facing the 14th-seeded Andreeva on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka elevated her game to deliver a commanding performance. Andreeva, who had stunned Sabalenka in the French Open quarter-finals last year, struggled to find her rhythm against the top seed’s powerful serves and versatile play. Sabalenka sealed the match in just over an hour with an unreturnable serve.

"Always tough matches against Andreeva, she's so young but playing such great tennis," Sabalenka said during her on-court interview. "I'm super happy to get through this difficult match in straight sets."

Next, Sabalenka will face either Donna Vekic or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, marking her 11th Grand Slam quarter-final in her last 13 campaigns.

After battling with her serve in the third round, Sabalenka found the hotter conditions on Sunday to her liking. "I'm super happy with my level today, and I hope the conditions stay the same for the rest of the tournament," she added.

The match began evenly, with both players holding their serves for the first three games. However, a string of forehand errors from Andreeva allowed Sabalenka to secure a break for 3-1. The Belarusian never relinquished control, wrapping up the opening set in just 25 minutes.

In the second set, Sabalenka broke Andreeva again for a 2-1 lead, capitalizing on her opponent’s double faults. While Andreeva applied some pressure on Sabalenka’s serve at 3-2, the reigning US Open champion fended off the only three break points she faced with an ace and a delicate drop shot.

Sabalenka’s performance showcased her powerful baseline game alongside her expanding repertoire, including some deft drop shots that added variety to her attacks.

With her eyes on the Australian Open title, Sabalenka continues to prove why she’s the top-ranked player in the world.

SportsLigue