Sabalenka smashes Tsurenko at Australian Open

MELBOURNE - Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka demolished 28th seed Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-0 on Friday to surge into the fourth round of the Australian Open with the loss of just six games in the tournament so far.

The Belarusian second seed, who won her maiden Grand Slam crown in Melbourne last year, is seeking to become the first woman to retain her title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka completed the feat in 2013. 

Sabalenka, wearing vivid red, bristled with intent from the start against the Ukrainian on Rod Laver Arena, cantering home in just 52 minutes.

"Last year (world number one) Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals," she said. "I'm trying to get closer to her.

"I'm super happy with the level I'm playing at so far and hopefully I can keep going like that or even better."

Tsurenko, who started the match with a 1-1 record against her opponent, this time had no answer to her devastating power and could muster only a paltry 11 points in the first set compared with 27 for Sabalenka.

It was a similar story in the second set.

Tsurenko had two points to get on the board in the second game on her own serve but Sabalenka slammed the door shut to break again.

She did not let up, smashing 10 winners past her hapless opponent in the set, sealing victory by breaking for the third time when Tsurenko dumped a forehand into the net.

Sabalenka enjoyed a breakthrough 2023. As well as winning the Australian Open she also made the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon before losing to Coco Gauff in the final of the US Open.