World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, January 21, defeating Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan in one hour and 16 minutes. Sabalenka controlled the match after Bai’s brief rally late in the first set.

The 23-year-old Bai showed resilience, winning three straight games late in the first set after Sabalenka opened with five games in 14 minutes. Despite the effort, the top seed closed out the set and dominated the second set, leaving Bai unable to mount a comeback.

Sabalenka’s performance and strategy

Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, expressed satisfaction with her performance. “I feel great, happy to get the win against a tricky opponent,” she said. Her precision, aggressive serves, and ability to control rallies kept Bai under pressure throughout the match.

After her first-round win over Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Sabalenka quickly found her rhythm against Bai. Bai had arrived with momentum from four consecutive wins in Melbourne, including a first-round victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. However, Sabalenka’s sharper game and experience against top-10 opponents proved decisive.

Implications for the Australian Open

With this victory, Sabalenka will meet either 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu or Anastasia Potapova in the third round. Her dominant performance reinforces her status as a favorite for the tournament and keeps her on track for a deep run in Melbourne.

Bai, despite the loss, gained valuable experience against a top-ranked player, showing flashes of potential in her second career match against a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam.