Sabalenka wins 6-0 6-0 in 52 minutes in Melbourne

The Belarusian has lost just six games in her three matches at Melbourne Park this year.

In Summary
  • "Last year Iga [Swiatek] won so many sets 6-0 and one of my goals is trying to get closer to her," Sabalenka said.
  • US Open champion Coco Gauff also breezed into the fourth round with a 6-0 6-2 win over Alycia Parks.
Aryna Sabalenka in a past ation
Aryna Sabalenka in a past ation
Image: /FILE

Aryna Sabalenka continued her emphatic Australian Open title defence with a 52-minute 6-0 6-0 victory over Lesia Tsurenko to reach the fourth round.

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka has lost just six games in her three matches at Melbourne Park this year.

"Last year Iga [Swiatek] won so many sets 6-0 and one of my goals is trying to get closer to her," Sabalenka said.

US Open champion Coco Gauff also breezed into the fourth round with a 6-0 6-2 win over Alycia Parks.

Gauff, who beat Sabalenka in the New York final to clinch her first major trophy, has yet to drop a set at this year's tournament.

She will face either Poland's Magdalena Frech or Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova next, while Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova.

Sabalenks continues dominant form

Sabalenka has enjoyed serene progress in Melbourne so far and has also seen some of her title rivals exit early.

World number one Swiatek's first two matches have kept her on the court for more than five hours, with the Pole having to come back from the brink against Danielle Collins in the second round.

Third seed Elena Rybakina, whom Sabalenka beat in last year's final, was beaten in a a record-breaking tie-break in the second round, while fifth seed Jessica Pegula also lost on Thursday.

Sabalenka, by contrast, has spent just under three hours on court and has yet to be truly tested.

She reached the semi-finals of all four majors last year but says she is in even better form this year, saying in her on-court interview that "Aryna 2024" would beat the Sabalenka of last season.

"I think today's performance was perfection," she said.

"There is always something to improve, you know. You just can't be happy with the level you are at right now so you always have to keep moving, keep improving."

She could face a tougher test against Anisimova, who is playing her first major since taking a seven-month break for her mental health and beat former world number two Paula Badosa 7-5 6-4.