Australian Open: Sabalenka storms into third round as “tigress” legacy grows
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her relentless dominance at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night, overpowering Chinese qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai 6-3, 6-1 to secure her place in the third round.
Aryna Sabalenka, Australian Open 2026 | © PsNewz
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her relentless dominance at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night, overpowering Chinese qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai 6-3, 6-1 to secure her place in the third round.
The top seed’s victory extends an extraordinary record in Australia, where she has now won 22 of her last 23 matches at the year’s opening Grand Slam, underscoring her status as the tournament’s most formidable hard-court force.
The contest at Rod Laver Arena was a showcase of Sabalenka’s evolving tactical variety. While she relied on her signature power to pierce Bai’s defenses, she also experimented with serve-and-volley plays and drop shots – adaptations she credited to a desire to keep challengers at bay.
Sabalenka : “inspire the next generation”
Despite needing seven set points to close a competitive opening frame against the tenacious Bai, Sabalenka shifted into another gear in the second set, losing only one game to wrap up the match in clinical fashion.
Following the win, the two-time champion shared a heartfelt moment during her on-court interview with Andrea Petkovic, reacting to the “tigress” posters brought by fans in the stands. Sabalenka, whose own tiger tattoo has become a symbol of her fierce persona, expressed deep gratitude for the support. “I always wanted to inspire the next generation,” she said. “I see all the posters even though I have to be focused on the match… it means a lot to me. You’re actually inspiring me.”
Sabalenka now moves into the round of 32 for the seventh time in her career. She awaits the winner of the high-profile clash between world No. 54 Anastasia Potapova and 28th seed Emma Raducanu. Given her 7-0 start to the 2026 season, which includes a title run in Brisbane, Sabalenka remains the overwhelming favorite as she seeks to reclaim the crown she narrowly lost in last year’s final.
