Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant performance at the Australian Open, securing a spot in the semifinals with a hard-fought 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win against Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The Belarusian, aiming for her third consecutive title at Melbourne Park, extended her winning streak to an impressive 19 matches despite facing challenging conditions.
Early in the match, Sabalenka showed vulnerability, grappling with gusty winds and a resilient opponent. However, her determination paid off as she executed a variety of shots, including a strategic drop shot from deep, earning crucial break points. Pavlyuchenkova fought back fiercely, but ultimately, Sabalenka's perseverance and strategic play prevailed.
In her own words, Sabalenka reflected on the match's difficulties: \"Honestly, I was just praying today. I was just praying to put the ball back in these tough conditions. We both were trying to put the ball back. It was very difficult to play. She played amazing tennis, aggressive. I'm super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match.\"
The match featured intense exchanges, with both players displaying their best shots. Sabalenka eventually gained the upper hand in the decider, breaking Pavlyuchenkova's serve at crucial moments to secure the win and set up a semifinal clash against her best friend, Paula Badosa.
Aryna also shared a personal insight, mentioning her tiger tattoo: \"I was born in the year of tiger and I literally dreamt for six months about getting a tiger tattoo. After six months of this crazy dream, I was like 'you know what, I have to go and get it done' and now, it's a reminder to never give up and just stay aggressive, stay hungry and push yourself no matter what's going on in your life.\"
\"Sometimes maybe it's good to have these tough battles, to go through it, to be tougher for the last stages of the tournament,\" Sabalenka said. \"I wish I would win this match in straight sets but it is how it is. I'm glad I'm in the semis and I cannot wait to play against Paula.\"
Reference(s):
Sabalenka sees off Pavlyuchenkova to reach Australian Open semifinals
cgtn.com
