Sabalenka, Zheng to Meet in Australian Open Final
The 2024 Australian Open women’s singles final is all set after Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng won their respective semifinals on Thursday.
Zheng ended the run of Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska as the 12th seed from China won 6-4, 6-4 to reach the first major final of her career.
“The feeling was incredible to arrive at my real first Grand Slam final. That’s my dream since I was a kid,” said Zheng. “So right now for sure I’m really happy, but I know there is still another fight to go. I’m trying to control my emotion right now. My dream is not just the final. I’m almost there, but I know this little distance still far away. There is still something needs to go on.”
She is now just one win away from winning a major title, and standing in her way is the event’s defending champion Sabalenka, who ousted reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff in her semifinal.
Sabalenka edged Gauff 7-6(2), 6-4 as she moves within one win of defending her championship from last year.
“It was an incredible match,” said Sabalenka. “She’s a great player, always tough battles against her. I think the key was that I was able to stay focused no matter what, no matter what the score was, I just kept trying my best, kept fighting for it. Of course, I’m super happy to be in another final of the Grand Slam. Hopefully I can do a little better than the last time.”
Sabalenka and Zheng have met once before, just a few months at the U.S. Open. Sabalenka won that match 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals en route to reaching the final.
“I’m sure the final will be really competitive, because I think Sabalenka, she’s one of the most big hitters right now on the tour,” said Zheng. “She got the most big serve, most big forehand, big backhand. She’s a really complete player. I haven’t faced big seeded all the past round and she will be the first one I will face. But, you know, it’s a match, so let’s see what’s gonna happen in the final there.”
