Aryna Sabalenka leads Zheng Qinwen 1-0 in their head-to-head record, thanks to her 2023 US Open quarter-final win. Here's all you need to know about Sabalenka Vs Zheng, Australian Open 2024 final
After weeks of gruelling tennis, the Australian Open women's singles title is up for grabs. World No. 2 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will take on 12th seed and rising Chinese star, Zheng Qinwen at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne on Saturday. The Sabalenka Vs Zheng Grand Slam final will be telecast live. (More Tennis News)
Their only previous meeting ended with a straight-sets win for Sabalenka (6-1, 6-4) in the quarter-finals of the 2023 US Open. But the 21-year-old girl from Hubei has grown in stature. She is now one win away from becoming only the second Chinese player -- male or female -- after legendary Li Na to win a Grand Slam singles title.
But in Aryna Sabalenka, she will face a tough opponent. Sabalenka, 25, hasn't dropped a single set in her pursuit of a second Major title. She steamrolled her opponents -- Ella Seidel (6-0, 6-1), Brenda Fruhvirtova (6-3, 6-2), Lesya Tsurenko (6-0, 6-0), Amanda Anisimova (6-3, 6-2) and Barbora Krejcikova (6-2, 6-3) -- before facing fourth seed Coco Gauff in the semis, where she was tested by the American teenager.
ALSO READ: Sinner Stuns Djokovic In Aus Open Semi-Final
Sabalenka survived a nervy first set but eventually won 7-6(2), 6-4 in a replay of the 2023 US Open final, a sweet revenge and now she is in her third straight Grand Slam final.
Zheng Qinwen, meanwhile, fought back from a set down in her opener against Ashlyn Kreuger (3-6, 6-2, 6-3), then beat Katie Boulter (6-3, 6-3). But she was pushed to the limit by her Chinese compatriot Wang Yafan in the third round before taking the third set tie-breaker 10-8 for a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 win. She had it easy against Oceane Dodin (6-0, 6-3) then faced another stiff challenge, this time from Anna Kalinskaya (6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1). In the semi-final, she defeated qualifier Dayana Yastremska (6-4, 6-4).
Both players lost their previous tournament finals -- Qinwen Zheng to Beatriz Haddad Maia at the 2023 WTA Elite Trophy and Aryna Sabalenka to Elena Rybakina at the 2024 Brisbane International.
The Australian Open 2024, women's singles final match between Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen is on January 27, 2024.
The scheduled start time for the Aryna Sabalenka Vs Zheng Qinwen tennis match is 2:00 PM IST (7:30 PM local).
In India, the Sabalenka vs Zheng Grand Slam tennis match can be watched on Sony Sports channels (TV) and SonyLiv platforms (live streaming).
Elsewhere, the match is available on Nine Network and Stan Sport (Australia); Sky (New Zealand); Eurosport (Europe); ESPN International (Latin America and the Caribbean),; beIN Sports (Middle and East & North Africa); SuperSport (Sub-saharan Africa); WOWOW (Japan); CCTV Sport, iQIYI, Greatsports Media and Guangdong TV (China); beIN Sports (Southeast Asia); CJ Media (South Korea); Sportcast (Taiwan); ESPN and Tennis TV (USA); TSN and RDS (Canada).